What type of review synthesizes evidence from multiple studies?

A systematic review synthesizes evidence from multiple studies in a rigorous and structured manner. This type of review employs explicit and systematic methods to identify, evaluate, and summarize the findings of all relevant studies on a specific research question. The goal of a systematic review is to provide a comprehensive and unbiased summary of the existing research, making it easier to determine the overall effectiveness or impact of an intervention or treatment.

By using predefined protocols for search strategies, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessment of the included studies, a systematic review minimizes biases that can arise from more subjective processes. This thorough approach ensures that the conclusions drawn are based on a robust body of evidence, making it a gold standard in evidence-based practice.

In contrast, a qualitative review may focus on the meaning or experience behind findings rather than quantitatively summarizing them from multiple studies. A narrative review typically presents a summary of literature on a topic but may lack the rigorous methodology of a systematic approach. A literature review is a broader term that encompasses various types of reviews and does not necessarily follow the strict protocols of systematic reviews.