Methodological Standards for Conducting High-Quality Systematic Reviews

Systematic reviews are a cornerstone of evidence-based research, providing comprehensive summaries of existing studies to answer specific research questions. This article offers a detailed guide to conducting high-quality systematic reviews in health and social sciences. It outlines key steps, including developing and registering a protocol, designing comprehensive search strategies, and selecting studies through a screening process. The article emphasizes the importance of accurate data extraction and the use of validated tools to assess the risk of bias across different study designs. Methods for synthesizing data are discussed, covering both quantitative approaches like meta-analysis and qualitative narrative synthesis when statistical pooling is not possible. The guide also highlights the use of frameworks, such as GRADE, to assess the certainty of evidence and provides recommendations for clear and transparent reporting in line with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. By adhering to these best practices, researchers can improve the reproducibility and the impact of their systematic reviews supporting decision-making in daily practice, public policy, and future research.