"Comprehensive reviews" is an umbrella term. It refers to any review where the literature search is exhaustive and documented in a detailed and thorough way in accordance with accepted standards to avoid outcome bias. Conversely, a non-comprehensive review does not need to follow the same standards, is less rigorous and has a shorter time commitment.
A systematic review is one type of comprehensive review. It is a review of a "clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review" (PRISMA). Statistical techniques (meta-analysis) may optionally be used to analyze the results of included studies of a systematic review. For biostatistics consultations, contact the MGH Division of Clinical Research or the Harvard Catalyst Biostatistics Consultation Service.
Similar to how one would not embark on primary research without a protocol, one should have a protocol in place before initiating a comprehensive review.
The table below breaks down which review types are considered comprehensive and which are not:
Comprehensive Reviews | Non Comprehensive Reviews |
Systematic Reviews | Narrative Reviews |
Scoping Reviews | Critical Reviews |
Umbrella Reviews | |
Integrative Reviews | |
Rapid Reviews |
It's important to have a good understanding of whichever review type you would like to pursue. Below are articles that talk more in depth about the differences between reviews. You can also use the "Which Review Is Right For You?" tool to help guide you in choosing a methodology.
Treadwell offers two tiers of review service, adapted from Harvard's model:
Level I: Acknowledgement
Level II: Co-authorship
Policies:
Due to overwhelming demand and not enough current staffing to handle it, we have a waitlist
Wait time is 4 weeks
If your project cannot wait, we suggest leveraging a librarian at a different institution if someone on your team has another affiliation or hiring a contract librarian if you have the funds. Below are resources outside of MGH that can help:
Courses that teach execution of a literature search:
How to find an independent contract worker to perform the literature search:
Intake Process
If you would like to be added to the wait list, fill out this form
Learn how to conduct comprehensive reviews in our Process and Standards pages. Resources about other common review methodologies are listed below.
Scoping Reviews
Scoping reviews serve to synthesize evidence and assess the scope of literature on a topic. Among other objectives, scoping reviews help determine whether a systematic review of the literature is warranted.
Umbrella Reviews
Systematic reviews of systematic reviews
Rapid Reviews
Rapid reviews omit parts of the systematic review process to speed up the review process.
Integrative Reviews
Integrative reviews are most often seen in the nursing discipline.
Living Systematic Reviews
Living systematic reviews are continually updated reviews that may be used to synthesize rapidly evolving areas of research.
Narrative Reviews
Treadwell provides access to Covidence, an online platform that aims to accelerate the systematic review process, at no cost to MGH employees. MGH employees can also invite individuals from outside of MGH to collaborate on Covidence projects.
Covidence is accessible by computer or mobile device, and provides one convenient place to screen citations, assess risk of bias, and extract data.
Access Covidence
To access Covidence, request an invitation here using your mgh.harvard.edu or mghihp.edu e-mail address. Do not use your partners.org or mgb.org address.
Have a MGH Covidence account already? Log in here.
Learn How to Get Started With Covidence
For videos and instructions to help you get started, see our support page in the Covidence Knowledge Base.