Systematic review design: a comprehensive review for practice and understanding

Abstract

For physical therapists, addressing clinical questions regarding intervention efficacy demands scientific evidence guided by evidence-based medicine (EBM). This paper reviews the design and practical aspects of systematic reviews (SRs), a key method for synthesizing evidence. We introduce the characteristics of SRs, detailing the process of structuring research questions, protocol development, and execution with results, based on our own SR research experience. Furthermore, we present our meta-epidemiological study, highlighting critical considerations for SR quality. We hope this paper enhances physical therapists’ understanding of SRs and their ultilization of high-quality evidence in clinical practice.