What is the primary aim of conducting a systematic review?

The primary aim of conducting a systematic review is to summarize evidence from multiple studies. Systematic reviews are rigorous evaluations that gather all relevant studies on a particular research question, critically appraise their quality, and synthesize their findings to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on that topic. This process helps to identify patterns, gaps in research, and the overall strength of evidence, which can guide healthcare decisions, policy-making, and further research.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary purpose of a systematic review. While validating theories or supporting anecdotal accounts may be components of some research processes, they do not encapsulate the comprehensive and systematic approach to evidence aggregation and synthesis that characterizes a systematic review. Additionally, creating a new original study diverges from the systematic review's focus on synthesizing existing research rather than generating new data.