The first step in your systematic review will be developing a well-defined research question. Consider your topic and whether there is a need for a review in this area. The review team should check:
You can search bibliographic databases for published reviews, or on protocol registries such as Prospero or OSF for reviews in progress.
If you have determined that your review will be of value, you can formulate and refine your research question.
Refining your question:
A good research question should have a clear purpose, be of interest to the target audience, have clinical relevance, and further current knowledge in the field. There are many different frameworks that you can use to help formulate and refine your question.
See below for resources to assist with formulating a robust research question
Once you have formulated your research question, the research team should develop and register the systematic review protocol. This should be developed before you begin the review. A protocol will provide a clear plan for the team, allow you to anticipate possible challenges, and act as a guide as you progress through your review.
See our Review Protocols page for more information and resources on tools for protocol development, and why and how to register your protocol.
At the very least your protocol should include: