Time : 12-18 months
Formulate a well-defined research question
Establish the team
Develop and document a comprehensive search
Define inclusion/exclusion criteria
Decide on data collection form
Search multiple databases and grey literature
Register study protocol for the review
Manage references
Screen title-abstract
Screen full text and apply selection criteria
Search for additional references, contact authors
Create flow chart from final selection (PRISMA)
Extract data from selection
Evaluate quality of studies
Conduct statistical analysis
Summarize and explain findings
Check final quality of evidence
Submit for publication
Team effort:
Content or clinical expert
Methods/study design expert
Librarian or search expert
2 reviewers (for conducting title-abstract and full-text screening)
Arbitrator or tie breaker (to resolve conflicts after screening)
Statistician
Data manager