Systematic Reviews & Other Review Types

"A systematic review which is continually updated, incorporating relevant new evidence as it becomes available." 

• Is underpinned by continual, active monitoring of the evidence (i.e. monthly searches)
• Immediately adds any new important evidence (meaning data, studies or information) that is identified
• Is supported by up-to-date communication about the status of the review, and any new evidence being incorporated

Reasons to conduct a Living Systematic Review:

• High priority or emerging question for policy and practice
• Important uncertainty in the existing evidence
• Emerging evidence that is likely to impact on what we currently know
• To produce evidence that is both trustworthy and current

Source: Cochrane Learning Webinar 

Core methods are the same as a systematic review, but they require the explicit, transparent and predefined decisions on:

• How frequently new evidence is sought and screened (ie. searching monthly)
• When and how new evidence is incorporated into the review

Other differences:

• Author Team: coordinated and continuous effort
• Meta-analysis: potential statistical adjustments for frequently updating meta-analysis
• Publication format: persistent, dynamic, online-only
• Methods and/or topic may change over time
• Longevity: Thought as to when the review will no longer be living 

Source: Cochrane Learning Webinar 

• Very time consuming
• Continuous work flow
• Team members must have a long term commitment to the project
• Frequent searching and screening
• Frequent statistical analysis-can lead to inflated or false-positive results
• May require technological tools to support screening, data extraction and critical analysis 
• A living systematic review doesn't mean it is living forever!
• Project funding may run out
• Publishing challenge - deciding where to publish each update and how often, may require multiple DOIs and indexing in Medline, unless publishing to a project website

Source: Cochrane Learning Webinar

LSR, Live Cumulative Network Meta-analysis (Related), Living Meta-analysis (Related)

Adapted with permission from Temple University Libraries. https://guides.temple.edu/systematicreviews