Systematic Reviews

At the beginning of the review process, you will conduct a thorough search to ensure you are not replicating an existing review. During this stage, you will also:

• map out your timeline 
• assemble a team to complete the study selection and screening processes
• begin to develop your review protocol  
• explore and select the tools and software you plan to use to facilitate your review. 

Chapter 1 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions provides detailed guidance for beginning a review. 

Before starting work on a systematic review, check to see that a systematic review does not already exist or is currently under way.

Existing systematic reviews may also provide a starting point for selecting a review topic and for reviewing protocols. 

The average time to complete a systematic review is 18 months. Below is suggested timeline from Cochrane: 

• Preparation of protocol: 1 – 2 months
• Searches for published and unpublished studies: 3-8 months
• Pilot test of eligibility criteria: 2-3 months
• Inclusion assessments: 3-8 months
• Pilot test of ‘Risk of bias’ assessment: 3 months
• Validity assessments: 3-10 months
• Pilot test of data collection: 3 months
• Data collection: 3-10 months
• Data entry: 3-10 months
• Follow up of missing information: 5-11 months
• Analysis: 8-10 months
• Preparation of review report: 1-11 months
• Keeping the review up-to-date: 12 months

From Dalhousie University Libraries: Systematic Reviews: A How-To Guide