Systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses have a vital role in summarizing the literature, exploring gaps in research, prioritizing new research, and providing literature to support decision-making and evidence-based practices. Librarians adapt their practices as members of the higher education and research community. If they consult and teach with researchers, faculty, and students, review methods will likely be a part of their work.
Piecing Together Systematic Reviews and Other Evidence Syntheses: A Guide for Librarians aims to be the definitive text on systematic reviews for librarians, information professionals, and expert searchers. Starting with an introduction to evidence syntheses, the book follows the acronym PIECCESS, a framework for the 8 phases which flow through 8 processes. The 8 phases are (1) Proposal of scope; (2) Protocol registration; (3) Preliminary findings; (4) Paper completion; (5) Preserve project; (6) Promote to stakeholders; (7) Impact compilation; (8) Updating the review. The 8 processes are Plan, Identify, Evaluate, Collect, Combine, Explain, Summarize, and Share. After the processes of a review project are covered, guidance for developing and running a service is provided as well as teaching reviews and training for librarians.
The intended audience for this book is any librarian interested in consulting, collaborating, completing, or teaching reviews. It has several applications: for training librarians new to reviews, for those developing a new review service, for those wanting to establish policies for current service, and as a reference for those conducting reviews or running a service. Participating in reviews is a new frontier of librarianship, with expanded opportunities for new service, research areas, and professional activities. This book is part of the effort to standardize best practices when engaging in evidence syntheses.
Margaret J. Foster, MSLIS, MPH, is a Professor at Texas A&M University and director and founder of the Center for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. With over 20 years experience working in libraries, she has consulted and collaborated on thousands of reviews across a wide variety of disciplines.
Sarah T. Jewell, Senior Scientific Librarian for Danaher Diagnostics, has over 15 years of experience as a medical librarian. She started conducting systematic reviews in 2010, launching the systematic review service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Library. She also formalized the systematic review service across multiple campuses at Rutgers University Libraries.
Preface
Section 1: The Big Picture
1. Introduction to Research Syntheses and the PIECCESS Framework
2. World of Reviews
Section 2: Plan
3. Reference Interviews
4. Question Frameworks
5. Related Reviews in Context
6. Project and Data Management
Section 3: Identify
7. Database Searching
8. Grey Literature Searching
9. Search Efficiency and Effectiveness
10. Case Studies
Section 4: Evaluate
11. Evaluating for Inclusion
12. Evaluating for Risk of Bias
Section 5: Collect, Combine, and Explain
13. Collecting and Combining Study Characteristics
14. Explaining through Data Visualization
Section 6: Summarize and Share
15. Proposals and Protocols
16. Preliminary Reports and Papers
17. Promotion and Preservation
Section 7: The Art of Puzzle Solving
18. Establishing and Managing Review Services
19. Professional Development
20. Collaborations on Reviews
21. Teaching Review Process
22. Research and Service Opportunities
About the Editors
About the Contributors
Relying on a combination of cutting edge practices and tried-and-true techniques, Piecing Together Systematic Reviews and Other Evidence Syntheses provides a practical, up to date guide for librarians on all aspects of evidence synthesis, from planning to writing up results. — Melissa L. Rethlefsen, MSLS, AHIP, Executive Director and Professor, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, University of New Mexico
Foster and Jewell’s team of authors demystify and delineate the expertise and effort involved in producing a high-quality systematic review or evidence synthesis. The framework and insights offered by this expert guide for information practitioners also make worthwhile reading for funders, reviewers, editors, and administrators supporting knowledge synthesis. — Kristine Alpi, MLS, MPH, PhD, FMLA, Associate Dean of Libraries & Information Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
