title: A guide to developing a systematic review.
abstract: Systematic reviews are used to gather information from a variety of sources and distill information based on best evidence synthesis, while also excluding poor quality studies via explicit validity checks. This article provides a roadmap to conducting a systematic review with the Cochrane Collaboration and uses an example of a completed systematic review. The literature is drawn upon to provide rationale for the processes undertaken. The aim of the sample systematic review was to identify and review all randomized controlled trials evaluating disposable surgical face masks worn by surgical team members during clean surgery to prevent postoperative surgical wound infection.
authors.affiliation: School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Glyntaff, Pontypridd, Wales.
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipp
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015982:Bias; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D008397:Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic