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Table 1 Methods of identifying and collating research evidence

From: The Global Evidence Mapping Initiative: Scoping research in broad topic areas

Method

Definition

Purpose

Breadth

Depth of process

Systematic Review

"an overview of primary studies which contains an explicit statement of objectives, materials and methods and has been conducted according to explicit and reproducible methodology." [22]

Summarise overall quality and results of a body of research; inform clinical practice

Addresses a focused clinical question [13]

In depth searching, quality appraisal and synthesis of studies relevant to the identified clinical question

Scoping Study

Overview of "the key concepts underpinning a research area and the main sources and types of evidence available" Mays et al. 2001; cited in [3]

Examine the extent, range and nature of research activity; identify research gaps [3]

Covers a broad topic area

Identifying boundaries and context of the area under study, followed by searching, collation and summary of study characteristics and results with no quality appraisal or synthesis

Evidence Mapping

The systematic organisation and illustration of a broad field of research evidence [3, 5]

Characterise the breadth, depth, methodology of relevant evidence and make this readily accessible [5]; identify research gaps

Covers a broad topic area

Identifying boundaries and context of the area under study and providing a description of yield, interventions, study design and study characteristics