Training, support and useful resources

There is a range of help available to assist you with different aspects of the systematic review process. We’ve highlighted several sources below, starting with the advice and training on searching for systematic reviews available at University of Nottingham.

Systematic review search, step by step:

Help & support

Training and support

The Libraries' Research Support team offers training on systematic review searching to cohorts of research students through the Graduate School and by arrangement with programme tutors.

We are also able to offer consultation on individual search strategies for research students and staff.

To request a training session or ask about your search strategy, please contact the Research Support team.

Xerte tutorial

The Libraries' Learning Development team has developed an online interactive resource 'Searching for evidence for a systematic review' which guides you through the process of undertaking a systematic review. The toolkit is available to University of Nottingham students and staff and forms part of the 'On Course for your Masters' NOOC (Unit 4.3).

Learning object

The School of Health Sciences have produced a short reusable learning object (RLO) called What is a meta-analysis? It provides an introduction to the basic concepts of meta-analysis, which is an important and valuable tool for summarising data from multiple studies.

Books

Read our list of suggested books and e-books on systematic review which you can identify through NUsearch.

Courses

Two well-established, comprehensive courses on systematic review are run at the University each year:

School of Medicine intranet page

An extensive list of useful links for systematic reviewers, is available to those with access to the School of Medicine intranet pages.

Useful resources

A selection of resources to support the systematic review process are given below:

The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions is the official guide that describes in detail the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions.
Cochrane also have a suite of online interactive learning modules on ‘Conducting an Intervention Review’. Module 1, ‘Introduction to conducting systematic reviews’, is available free and lasts 45 minutes. Other modules are free to Cochrane authors, or via individual or institutional subscriptions.
The Campbell Collaboration's Information Retrieval Methods Group has published a guide to information retrieval for systematic reviews: Searching for studies: a guide to information retrieval for Campbell systematic reviews. This could be helpful if your systematic review is qualitative or in the fields of education, crime or social welfare.
InterTASC Information Specialists’ Sub-Group Search Filter Resource is a collaborative venture to identify, assess and test search filters designed to retrieve research by study design or focus. The Search Filters Resource aims to provide easy access to published and unpublished search filters.
JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The manual is designed to provide authors with a comprehensive guide to conducting JBI systematic reviews. It describes in detail the process of planning, undertaking and writing up a systematic review using JBI methods. The chapter on the Search Methodology for JBI Evidence Syntheses includes guidance for choosing appropriate databases; structuring searches for optimal results; collaborating with information professionals; and documenting search processes effectively.
The Oxford University web pages on systematic review provide useful guidance.
The Yale University 'Systematic searches' tutorials provide step-by-step video tutorials.
Systematic Review Toolbox, an online catalogue of tools to support tasks at each stage of a systematic review or other evidence synthesis reviews (scoping reviews, mixed methods reviews, rapid reviews, etc.).
RevMan is the software used for Cochrane Reviews. RevMan Web is available free of charge for Cochrane Review authors working on Cochrane Reviews. The RevMan web pages host tutorials on how to use RevMan software.