Twelve tips for medical students to conduct a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Medical students engaged in research develop general skills that are instrumental to clinical practice. The systematic review, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, represents an ideal starting point for student researchers.

Aim and methods: To outline twelve tips on conducting a systematic review for medical students with limited research experience.

Results: The tips in this article are practical, comprehensive, and informed by the authors experience as medical students.

Conclusion: The twelve tips can help medical students contribute to the literature and build a valuable skillset for future research and clinical practice.

Disclosure statement

The authors reports no conflicts of interest. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Notes on contributors

Ariel R. Choi, ScB, is a medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is the first author of a SR/MA that explores the relationship between occupational styrene exposure and acquired color vision loss.

Derrick L. Cheng, AB/ScB, is a medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is the first author of a SR that examines recent initiatives in the field of retinal prostheses.

Paul B. Greenberg, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology) at the Warren Alpert Medical School and Chief of Ophthalmology at the Providence VA Medical Center.