What role does bias minimization play in systematic reviews?

Bias minimization is crucial in systematic reviews because it enhances the trustworthiness of findings. By actively working to reduce various types of bias—such as selection bias, reporting bias, and publication bias—researchers increase the likelihood that the results reflect the true effects of the intervention or exposure under study. This trustworthiness is essential for clinicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders when making decisions based on the reviewed evidence. A systematic review that successfully minimizes bias is more likely to yield credible, reliable conclusions that can be confidently applied in practice.

While balanced reporting and simplified data interpretation are important aspects of a good review, they do not directly relate to the fundamental issue of trustworthiness. Additionally, guaranteeing absolute validity of results is not a realistic outcome of any research process, as all studies carry some degree of uncertainty. Thus, the core purpose of bias minimization in systematic reviews aligns most directly with enhancing the trustworthiness of the findings.