What best describes a narrative review?

A narrative review is best described as an overview of literature. It synthesizes findings from various sources, offering a comprehensive understanding of a particular topic or area of study without strictly adhering to specific methodological guidelines. This type of review is characterized by its thematic organization and discussion of concepts, allowing the authors to explore the breadth of existing research, including theoretical frameworks and diverse perspectives.

Unlike systematic reviews, which focus on rigid methodologies and typically include predefined criteria for selecting studies, narrative reviews provide a more flexible approach. This allows researchers to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative studies, thus giving a broader context to the findings being discussed. As a result, narrative reviews are valuable for identifying trends, gaps in research, and overarching themes in the literature, which may not emerge in more structured reviews.