Literature Search Strategy  – here’s a few comments from one of our experienced strategists who regularly design and perform both comprehensive and systematic literature reviews.

A systematic review uses an established and clearly defined strategy for obtaining published data, and also determines clear-cut exclusion and inclusion criteria for the ultimate selection of papers and studies to be considered. One of the chief criteria for a systematic literature review is that the methodology is valid (i.e. answers the research question asked) and reliable (i.e. another investigator should be able to repeat the research and obtain the same results). It is therefore crucial that the steps followed to identify the literature are systematic, logical and transparent. In addition the quality of the studies identified in the literature is important; the inclusion criteria should not be so relaxed as to include poorly designed studies with data that might bias the findings, nor so rigid that a large body of clinically relevant work is excluded.

The stratification of data is most easily accomplished by using a string of set parameters that are also clearly defined, and by analyzing each paper using these parameters. The use of Excel spreadsheets, while cumbersome, can be the most efficient way of comparing data within certain parameters. NICE recommends the use of spreadsheets for accurate comparison of studies, and this is standard practice for any literature review or analysis within Rx.

With all the literature benchmarking, systematic and comprehensive reviews we have undertaken over the years, we have developed a useful 4 step thought process that helps ensure our clients get the results they want.