Public Health: Types of Reviews

• A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies

  Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91–108.

• What type of review is right for you? Cornell University Library

  Images based on chart created by Cornell University Library.
  Updated 2019

• Intro to Literature Reviews LibGuide

  Resources from UGA Librarian Sandra Riggs on Literature Reviews for all disciplines and possible workflows for staying organized

Literature (Narrative) Review

• This refers to reviews with a broad scope and no standardized methodology (See this guide for more info)
• Example: The role of family structure in health literacy in children and adolescents: a narrative review

Systematized Review

• Usually falls short of a systematic review in that it is conducted by a single person (typically a post-graduate student) using systematic methods. 
• Example: Evidence-based information needs of public health workers: a systematized review

Rapid Review

• Typically employs limited searching within a setting where issues needing quick decisions can be addressed
• Example: Person-centred integrated care with a health promotion/public health approach: a rapid review
• Read more here:  Evidence summaries: the evolution of a rapid review approach for methodological guidance.

Scoping Review

• Preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature; attempts to identify research gaps and opportunities for evidence synthesis but does not synthesize results in a systematic way (See this guide for more info)
• Example: A scoping literature review of collaboration between primary care and public health

Umbrella Review

• Reviews other systematic reviews on a topic and often compares interventions
• Example: Evaluating Mediterranean diet and risk of chronic disease in cohort studies: an umbrella review of meta-analyses

Systematic Review

• A comprehensive review of the literature which aims to identify and synthesize all relevant literature (both published and grey literature); starts with a well‐defined question with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, including what specific study designs will be examined; aims to provide answers to questions from a relatively narrow range of quality assessed studies; may involve a meta-analysis
• Example: Communities of practice to improve public health outcomes: a systematic review

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Meta-Analysis

• Technique that statistically combines the results of quantitative studies; may be conducted independently or part of a systematic review
• Example: ​​​​​​​Are active video games useful in the development of gross motor skills among non-typically developing children? A meta-analysis