To make an appointment to consult with an HSL librarian on your systematic review, please read our Systematic Review Policy and submit a Systematic Review Consultation Request.
To ask a question or make an appointment for assistance with a narrative review, please complete the Ask a Librarian Form.
Systematic reviews are a team effort! Most standards recommend, and, in some cases, require, multiple reviewers to provide the necessary expertise for a systematic review, and to help reduce bias in the search and selection process. HSL Librarians can provide guidance and assistance with the review process, and may be available as members of the review team.
Ideally, the systematic review team should include expertise in:
You will need at least two investigator-level team members, as some steps in the process require dual review.
Librarians can be a great source of help for systematic reviews. They can:
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They can also, depending on their availability:
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According to the Institute of Medicine, a conflict of interest is "a financial or intellectual relationship that may impact an individual's ability to approach a scientific question with an open mind." Conflicts of interest, or perceived conflicts of interest, can damage the integrity of a systematic review's findings.
When forming a team for a systematic review, it is important to identify and evaluate potential conflicts of interest for every team member. Here are some examples of conflict of interest that should be evaluated:
Financial |
Direct employment by a commercial organization with a financial interest in the topic being reviewed; Holding or having applied for a patent relating to topic; Receiving funding by an organization with a financial interest; Received financial support from interested sources in the past, including consultancy fees, grants, fellowships, honoraria, royalties, speaker's fees, advisory board membership; Ownership of stock related to industry |
Professional |
Evaluating an aspect of one's own practice; Evaluating a practice one has been responsible for developing; Involvement in primary research in the subject area of the review |
Intellectual/Personal |
Strongly held beliefs; Personal relationships with study authors or those with interest in topic; Desire for career advancement and recognition |
How to manage conflicts of interest: