Systematic reviews for evidence-based management: how to find them and what to do with them.
OBJECTIVE
To identify strategies for retrieval and evaluation of systematic reviews from a management perspective.


METHODS
Review of available literature and resources on systematic reviews.


METHODS
From published literature on evidence-based medicine and systematic review, we identified resources and adapted retrieval and evaluation strategies for healthcare managers. A published systematic review then was assessed for quality and relevance to management decisions.


RESULTS
Systematic reviews relevant to the organization and delivery of care are available. Criteria for evaluating the relevance and quality of systematic reviews on clinical topics may be adapted for systematic reviews on organizational topics. However, even a systematic review that focuses on an organizational topic can lack important information on costs and study setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater familiarity with the retrieval and evaluation of systematic reviews can help managers use these sources effectively and encourage the development of evidence-based management.
Chan
Kitty S
KS
Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. kchan@jhsph.edu
Morton
Sally C
SC
Shekelle
Paul G
PG
D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D006270:Health Facility Administrators; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic