What does a systematic review aim to address?

A systematic review aims to address a specific clinical question by systematically gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing all relevant research studies on that topic. This process involves a comprehensive literature search to identify all available studies that meet predefined inclusion criteria, followed by a critical appraisal of the quality and findings of these studies. By focusing on a particular clinical question, systematic reviews provide evidence-based conclusions that can inform clinical practice, guidelines, and further research. This targeted approach distinguishes systematic reviews from broader practices, like general health practices or historical treatment methods, which do not seek to answer a well-defined question. Additionally, while surveys of healthcare consumers may provide useful insights, they do not systematically collect and analyze scientific evidence focused on a specific clinical issue.