Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions

摘要

The use of systematic reviews is growing outside health care.rnThere are still many common myths about their methods and utility.rnSome common misconceptions are that systematic reviews can include only randomised controlled trials; that they are of value only for assessing the effectiveness of healthcare interventions; that they must adopt a biomedical model; and that they have to entail some form of statistical synthesis.rnSystematic reviews have always included a wide range of study designs and study questions, have no preferred "biomedical model," and have methodologies that are more flexible man is sometimes realised.rnMany of the common criticisms of systematic reviews are fallacious.