Library: Systematic reviews: Write your review

Reporting a systematic review

To ensure that your systematic review can be identified, cited or replicated, you should write a report. If you have written a good protocol, the write up should be straightforward. For guidance, visit the EQUATOR Network website because it curates guidelines for reporting on different types of trials and research studies, including systematic reviews, and the Equator Network also provides a flow chart to help authors choose the most appropriate reporting guideline.

In the your report, you should describe, at the very least, each database that you used (e.g. Elsevier's Embase.com) and your search strategy for each one (including any limits used). Your methods should be written in the past tense. Your methods section should enable other researchers to reproduce your review. Your search strategy can be displayed in a table format, with separate columns for each database.

Reporting guidelines for main study types

Study type	Example of a guideline
Animal pre-clinical studies	ARRIVE
Case reports	CARE
Clinical practice guidelines	AGREE
Diagnostic/prognostic studies	STARD
Economic evaluations	CHEERS
Observational studies	STROBE
Randomised trials	CONSORT
Qualitative research	SRQR
Quality improvement studies	SQUIRE
Study protocols	SPIRIT
Systematic reviews	COCHRANE

Many more reporting guidelines are available in the Library of the EQUATOR Network. Some guidelines have been translated into languages other than English.

Connect to the Library of the EQUATOR Network

More advice about writing up

Module 8 in Cochrane Interactive Learning provides advice about the key elements of reporting a systematic review. The Library is subscribing to Cochrane Interactive Learning. If you have not done so already, you first need to create a Cochrane account before starting.