| Systematic Review | Literature Review | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | High-level overview of primary research on a focused question that identifies, selects, synthesizes, and appraises all high quality research evidence relevant to that question | Qualitatively summarizes evidence on a topic using informal or subjective methods to collect and interpret studies |
| Goals | Answers a focused clinical question Eliminate bias |
Provide summary or overview of topic |
| Question | Clearly defined and answerable clinical question Recommend using PICO as a guide |
Can be a general topic or a specific question |
| Components | Pre-specified eligibility criteria Systematic search strategy Assessment of the validity of findings Interpretation and presentation of results Reference list |
Introduction Methods Discussion Conclusion Reference list |
| Number of Authors | Three or more | One or more |
| Timeline | Months to years Average eighteen months |
Weeks to months |
| Requirement | Thorough knowledge of topic Perform searches of all relevant databases Statistical analysis resources (for meta-analysis) |
Understanding of topic |
| Value | Connects practicing clinicians to high quality evidence Supports evidence-based practice |
Provides summary of literature on the topic |
Source: Lynn Kysh, What’s in a name? The difference between a Systematic Review and a Literature Review, and why it matters