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Methods
Conducting systematic reviews involves rigorous methods to reduce bias and methodically synthesize the literature. These methods include:
- Create a team with subject matter and methods experts
- Develop a protocol that specifies study questions and outcomes
- Develop and conduct a comprehensive literature search
- Perform accurate screening and data abstraction
- Perform critical appraisal of individual studies
- Synthesize the data
- Evaluate the body of evidence
- Develop a complete and transparent report
(adapted from Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews (2011)external icon)
Systematic review methods can use quantitative (e.g., meta-analysis) or qualitative techniques (e.g., meta-synthesis). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes papers on many aspects of systematic review methods or methods related to HIV prevention and care.
Mullins, M. M., DeLuca, J. B., Crepaz, N., Lyles, C. M. for the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis (PRS) Team. (2014). Reporting quality of search methods in systematic reviews of HIV behavioral interventions (2000-2010): Are the searches clearly explained, systematic and reproducibleexternal icon? Research Synthesis Methods, 5(2), 116-130. doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1098
DeLuca, J. B., Mullins, M. M., Lyles, C. M., Crepaz, N., Kay, L., & Thadiparthi, S. (2008). Developing a comprehensive search strategy for evidence-based systematic reviewexternal icon. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 3(1), 3-32. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/B8KP66
Lyles, C. M., Crepaz, N., Herbst, J. H., Kay, L. S., & the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Team. (2006). Evidence-based HIV behavioral prevention from the perspective of the CDC’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Teamexternal icon. AIDS Education and Prevention, 18(4 Suppl. A), 21-31. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2006.18.supp.21
Des Jarlais, D. C., Lyles, C. M., & Crepaz, N. (2005). Re: “quality of reporting of observational longitudinal research.”external icon American Journal of Epidemiology, 162(10), 1032. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwi313
Des Jarlais, D. C., Lyles, C., Crepaz, N., & the Trend Group. (2004). Improving the reporting quality of nonrandomized evaluations of behavioral and public health interventions: The TREND statementexternal icon. American Journal of Public Health, 94(3), 361-366. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.94.3.361
Des Jarlais, D. C., Lyles, C., & Crepaz, N. (2004). Des Jarlais et al. respondexternal icon. American Journal of Public Health, 94(9), 1474-1475. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.94.9.1474-a
Flores, S. A., Crepaz, N., & the HIV Prevention Research (PRS) Team. (2004). Quality of study methods in individual- and group-level HIV intervention research: Critical reporting elementsexternal icon. AIDS Education and Prevention, 16(4), 341-352. doi: 10.1521/aeap.16.4.341.40396
Des Jarlais, D. C., & Semaan, S. (2002). HIV prevention research: Cumulative knowledge or accumulating studies? An introduction to the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project supplementexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S1-S7.
Doll, L. S., & Holtgrave, D. R. (2002). The HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project: Implications for federal HIV prevention policyexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S130-S133.
Eke, A., Peersman, G., Semaan, S., Hylton, K., Kiiti, N., & Sweat, M. D. (2002). Acquisition and review of non U.S.-based HIV risk reduction intervention studiesexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S51-S55.
Hedges, L. V., Johnson, W. D., Semaan, S., & Sogolow, E. (2002). Theoretical issues in the synthesis of HIV prevention researchexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S8-S14.
Johnson, W. D., Semaan, S., Hedges, L. V., Ramirez, G., Mullen, P. D., & Sogolow, E. (2002). A protocol for the analytical aspects of a systematic review of HIV prevention researchexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S62-S72.
Erratum: (2002). JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 31(3), 368.
Kennedy, G. E., Peersman, G., & Rutherford, G. W. (2002). International collaboration in conducting systematic reviews: The Cochrane Collaborative Review Group on HIV Infection and AIDSexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S56-S61.
Scofield, J. M., & Smith, R. A. (2002). Implications of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project for the efforts of state, territorial, and local health departmentsexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S134-S136.
Sogolow, E., Peersman, G., Semaan, S., Strouse, D., Lyles, C. M., & the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project Team. (2002). The HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project: Scope, methods, and study classification resultsexternal icon. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 30(Suppl. 1), S15-S29.
