Structured critical analysis correction of a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Objective

: Systematic reviews (SRs) are an increasingly important format in the scientific literature. Commentaries on improvements to the SR format have focused on methodological quality, but a greater concern is a frequent lack of critical analysis. A structured critical analysis (SCA) was described as a solution to this deficiency.

Methods

: Recommendations and conclusions of a recent SR were analyzed with a SCA to address common problems previously reported with the SR format.

Results

: Errors in the component studies and their interpretation by the SR that led to erroneous recommendations were presented. The 5-part SCA provided comprehensive analysis that corrected the SR, which had accepted the component study conclusions verbatim.

Conclusion

: The SCA is a logical approach to provide critical thinking in SRs to ensure appropriate conclusions. This is especially important, as many SRs report contradictory evidence. Also, the reader can use the SCA format to better understand existing literature.

KEYWORDS:

• Systematic review
• structured critical analysis
• component studies
• methodological quality
• meta-analysis
• scientific merit
• occlusion
• splints

Disclosure statement

The author has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.