Evidence Synthesis Methodologies in the Health Sciences

LibGuides

The following sites informed the development of this guide; some content has been adapted with permission.

The following libraries' service models or policies informed the design of our own Evidence Synthesis Service:

Austin Health Library, Brock University Library, Cornell University Library, East Tennessee State University Medical Library, Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center of Northwestern University, Medical University of South Carolina Libraries, Ohio University Libraries, Oregon Health & Science University Library, Syracuse University Libraries, Taubman Health Sciences Library of the University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library, University of Washington's Health Sciences Library, and Washington State University Library.

Other Websites

AHRQ EHC Program, Lau, J., Trikalinos, T., McPheeters, M. L., & Seroogy, J. (2022). Data Extraction. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Training Modules for Systematic Reviews Methods Guide.

AHRQ EHC Program, & White, C. M. (2019). Assessing the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews of Health Care Interventions. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Training Modules for Systematic Reviews Methods Guide.

Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616

Aromataris E, Lockwood C, Porritt K, Pilla B, Jordan Z, editors. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI; 2024. Available from: https://synthesismanual.jbi.global. https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-24-01

Booth, A., Noyes, J., Flemming, K., Moore, G., Tunçalp, Ö., & Shakibazadeh, E. (2019). Formulating questions to explore complex interventions within qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Global Health, 4(Suppl 1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001107

Borah, R., Brown, A. W., Capers, P. L., & Kaiser, K. A. (2017). Analysis of the time and workers needed to conduct systematic reviews of medical interventions using data from the PROSPERO registry. BMJ Open, 7(2), e012545. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012545

Covidence. (2024). A practical guide: Data Extraction for Intervention Systematic Reviews. Veritas Health Innovation Ltd. https://www.covidence.org/resource/data-extraction-for-intervention-systematic-reviews/

Covidence. (2024). A practical guide: Screening for Systematic Reviews. Veritas Health Innovation Ltd. https://www.covidence.org/resource/screening-for-systematic-reviews/

Evidence Synthesis Institute. (2025, March). Frameworks and Eligibility Criteria. [Workshop session]. Evidence Synthesis Institute, online. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/evidencesynthesisinstitute/

Evidence Synthesis International. (2015, September 7). What is Evidence Synthesis? Evidence Synthesis International. https://evidencesynthesis.org/what-is-evidence-synthesis/

Garritty, C., Hamel, C., Trivella, M., Gartlehner, G., Nussbaumer-Streit, B., Devane, D., Kamel, C., Griebler, U., & King, V. J. (2024). Updated recommendations for the Cochrane rapid review methods guidance for rapid reviews of effectiveness. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-076335

Ghezzi-Kopel, K., & Porciello, J. (2020). Evidence Synthesis Protocol Template. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZWD6N

Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x

Haddaway, N. R., Lotfi, T., & Mbuagbaw, L. (2023). Systematic reviews: A glossary for public health. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 51(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948221074998

Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.5 (updated August 2024). Cochrane, 2024. Available from www.cochrane.org/handbook.

Hirt, J., Nordhausen, T., Fuerst, T., Ewald, H., & Appenzeller-Herzog, C. (2024). Guidance on terminology, application, and reporting of citation searching: The TARCiS statement. BMJ, 385, e078384. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078384

Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2009). Integration of evidence from multiple meta-analyses: A primer on umbrella reviews, treatment networks and multiple treatments meta-analyses. CMAJ, 181(8), 488–493. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081086

Klerings, I., Robalino, S., Booth, A., Escobar-Liquitay, C. M., Sommer, I., Gartlehner, G., Devane, D., & Waffenschmidt, S. (2023). Rapid reviews methods series: Guidance on literature search. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 28(6), 412–417. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2022-112079

Knowledge Translation Program. (2025). Right Review. Retrieved August 26, 2025, from https://whatreviewisrightforyou.knowledgetranslation.net/

Lely, J., Morris, H. C., Sasson, N., Camarillo, N. D., Livinski, A. A., Butera, G., & Wickstrom, J. (2023, May 30). How to write a scoping review protocol: Guidance and template. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YM65X

Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O’Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69

Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., Stewart, L. A., & PRISMA-P Group. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2011. Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13059

OSF Support. (2023, September 14). Select a Registration Template. https://help.osf.io/article/229-select-a-registration-template

Peters, M. D. J., Godfrey, C., McInerney, P., Khalil, H., Larsen, P., Marnie, C., Pollock, D., Tricco, A. C., & Munn, Z. (2022). Best practice guidance and reporting items for the development of scoping review protocols. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 20(4), 953. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-21-00242

Rethlefsen, M. L., & Page, M. J. (2022). PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S: Common questions on tracking records and the flow diagram. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 110(2), 253–257. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1449

Tsafnat, G., Glasziou, P., Choong, M. K., Dunn, A., Galgani, F., & Coiera, E. (2014). Systematic review automation technologies. Systematic Reviews, 3(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-3-74

Tyndall, J. 2008. How low can you go? Towards a hierarchy of grey literature. AACODS checklist. Presented at Dreaming08: Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference, 2-5 September 2008, Alice Springs. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://fac.flinders.edu.au/items/4ad77e65-30c3-4439-ab24-b6e60102abf0

Van den Akker, O., Peters, G., Bakker, C., Carlsson, R., Coles, N. A., Corker, K. S., … Yeung, S. (2020, September 15). Increasing the Transparency of Systematic Reviews: Presenting a Generalized Registration Form. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02281-7

Viswanathan M, Patnode C, Berkman ND, Bass EB, Chang S, Hartling L, Murad HM, Treadwell JR, Kane RL. Assessing the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews of Health Care Interventions. Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. (Prepared by the Scientific Resource Center under Contract No. 290-2012-0004-C). AHRQ Publication No. 17(18)-EHC036-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; December 2017. Posted final reports are located on the Effective Health Care Program search page. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/AHRQEPCMETHGUIDE2