Introduction

How can the library help?
A helpsheet providing an overview of the process and the library help that is available.

Tiers of service
This guide describes the levels of help we are able to offer as a library service.

Request library help with your systematic review
An online form that you can use to request library help when starting a systematic review.

Training

Please see the library training pages for relevant sessions including: Writing for Publication, Critical Appraisal Training and Getting Started with Systematic Reviews (coming soon).

Protocol Registration

PROSPERO
A free platform for publishing open-access review protocols. There is a standardised form to complete to register a protocol. Also useful to search when creating a unique search question.

Reporting Standards

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
The PRISMA guidelines are a well known and respected set of standards for doing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. There are reporting standards for systematic and scoping reviews, protocols and abstracts.

Handbooks and Guides

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
Handbook detailing how to undertake and write a Cochrane systematic review, but a useful reference for non-Cochrane reviews too.

Joanna Briggs Institute reviewers manual
Joanna Briggs Institute help and advice for undertaking and writing systematic reviews. Also links to the SUMARI (System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information) software that assists with the process.

University of Leicester Systematic Review Overview
The University of Leicester guide to getting started with and registering a review. They also have a detailed reading list for more information.

Joanna Briggs Institute ebook collection
This collection of 23 ebooks are there to support evidence-based practice and to assist in the creation of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. They cover the JBI model of evidence-based healthcare and tackle issues such as qualitative research, appraising evidence and statistics.

Reference Management and Statistics

Covidence
An online tool that assists with the screening and assessing of references in the systematic review process. It can be used for free under certain conditions but otherwise a subscription is required.

Rayyan
Online tool that assists with the screening and assessing of references. Most of the features are available for free.

RevMan (Review Manager) 5
The Cochrane Community downloadable software which aids the production of systematic reviews. The software is free to download and use for non-commercial purposes.

TERA tools
A suite of free tools to help with the systematic review process. It is produced by Bond University in Australia. Free sign-up required.

Appraisal and Risk of Bias

ROBINS-I and RoB2
The ROBINS-I and RoB2 tools are used to evaluate the risk of bias in randomised and non-randomised studies respectively.

GRADE
The Cochrane GRADE approach is used to rate the certainty of findings in systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses.