RAND Research Using Literature and Systematic Reviews

As a method, the literature review includes such elements as narrative or descriptive analysis, logic models, systematic reviews, and meta analysis.

The following research was conducted by a range of RAND divisions, programs, and centers using these methods.

Church-based Interventions to Address Obesity Among African Americans and Latinos in the United States: A Systematic Review

Oct 17, 2019

The present systematic literature review of church-based interventions was conducted to assess their efficacy for addressing obesity across different racial/ethnic groups (eg, African Americans, Latinos).

Karen Rocío Flórez, Denise Diaz Payan, Kartika Palar, Malcolm V. Williams, Bozena Katic, Kathryn Pitkin Derose
Using Existing Systematic Reviews in Complex Systematic Reviews

Jan 1, 2008

Drawing from their collective experience, the authors outline a series of steps that can help reviewers reach reasoned decisions about the incorporation of existing systematic reviews and enumerate potential hazards to consider in doing so.

Evelyn P. Whitlock, Jennifer S. Lin, Roger Chou, Paul G. Shekelle, Karen A. Robinson
Systematic Reviews for Occupational Safety and Health Questions: Resources for Evidence Synthesis

Jul 11, 2016

This report provides practical guidance to execute a systematic review and considerations and available resources specific to evidence synthesis for occupational safety and health questions.

Susanne Hempel, Lea Xenakis, Marjorie Danz
Twelve Recommendations for Integrating Existing Systematic Reviews Into New Reviews: EPC Guidance

Feb 12, 2016

As time and cost constraints in the conduct of systematic reviews increase, the need to consider the use of existing systematic reviews also increases. We developed guidance on the integration of systematic reviews into new reviews.

Karen A. Robinson, Roger Chou, Nancy D Berkman, Sydne J. Newberry, Rongwei Fu, Lisa Hartling, Donna M. Dryden, Mary Butler, Michelle Foisy, Johanna Anderson, Makalapua Motu'apuaka, Rose Relevo, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Stephanie M. Chang
A Proposed Approach May Help Systematic Reviews Retain Needed Expertise While Minimizing Bias from Nonfinancial Conflicts of Interest

Jan 1, 2014

We sought to create practical guidance on ensuring adequate clinical or content expertise while maintaining independence of judgment on systematic review teams.

Meera Viswanathan, Timothy S. Carey, Suzanne E. Belinson, Elise Berliner, Stephanie M. Chang, Elaine Graham, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Stanley Ip, Margaret A. Maglione, Douglas C. McCrory, Melissa McPheeters, Sydne J. Newberry, Priyanka Sista, C. Michael White
Surveillance and Identification of Signals for Updating Systematic Reviews: Implementation and Early Experience

Jul 28, 2016

The question of how to determine when a systematic review needs to be updated is of considerable importance. Developing and implementing a surveillance process for quickly identifying Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (CERs) in need of updating.

Sydne J. Newberry, Paul G. Shekelle, Nadera Ahmadzai, Aneesa Motala, Alexander Tsertsvadze, Margaret A. Maglione, Mohammed T Ansari, Susanne Hempel, Sophia Tsouros, Jennifer J. Schneider Chafen, Roberta M. Shanman, Becky Skidmore, David Moher
Designing Efficient Systematic Reviews Using Economical Allocation, Creation and Synthesis of Medical Evidence

Oct 1, 2014

Uses economical allocation, creation, and synthesis of medical evidence to design efficient systematic reviews.

Mike Scarpati
Assessment of a Method to Detect Signals for Updating Systematic Reviews

Feb 1, 2014

Systematic reviews are a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine but are useful only if up-to-date.

Paul G. Shekelle, Aneesa Motala, Breanne Johnsen, Sydne J. Newberry, Daniel Seekins
AHRQ Series on Complex Intervention Systematic Reviews: Selecting Analytic Approaches

Aug 23, 2017

Reviewers may elect to revise their analytic approach based on new or changing considerations during the course of a systematic review, but they should guard against bias through transparency of reporting.

Meera Viswanathan, Melissa McPheeters, M. Hassan Murad, Mary Butler, Emily E. Devine, Michele P. Dyson, Jeanne-Marie Guise, Leila C. Kahwati, Jeremy N. V. Miles, Sally C. Morton
Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Summary of Findings (SoF) Tables to Improve Understanding in the Presentation of Systematic Review Results: A Three-Arm, Randomised, Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial

Mar 7, 2018

This study is an important first step in understanding how to present complex information to the multitude of systematic reviews users in an understandable and accessible way.

Juan Jose Yepes-Nunez, Rebecca L. Morgan, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Alonso Carrasco-Labra, Stephanie M. Chang, Susanne Hempel, Paul G. Shekelle, Mark Helfand, Tejan Baldeh, Holger J. Schünemann
Challenges in Systematic Reviews of Qualitative Research

Sep 1, 2014

Systematic reviews of qualitative research are useful, but pose challenges for researchers. Many debates over their value arise from the tension between the positivistic, aggregative approach of systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness and the interpretive nature of most qualitative research.

Gerardo Melendez-Torres, Sean Grant
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in CAM: Contribution and Challenges

Nov 23, 2010

This book chapter gives an introduction on how to read and how to do a systematic review or a meta-analysis, and discusses advances and limitations of this method.

Klaus Linde, Ian D. Coulter
Diagnosing and Managing Common Food Allergies: A Systematic Review

Jan 1, 2010

This systematic review of scientific knowledge on food allergies found that evidence for the prevalence and management of food allergy is limited by a lack of uniform criteria for making a diagnosis.

Jennifer J. Schneider Chafen, Sydne J. Newberry, Marc Riedl, Dena M. Bravata, Margaret A. Maglione, Marika Booth, Vandana Sundaram, Neil M. Paige, Ali Towfigh, Benjamin J. Hulley, Paul G. Shekelle
Delivery of Genomic Medicine for Common Chronic Adult Diseases: A Systematic Review

Jan 1, 2008

Synthesizes current information on genetic health services for common adult-onset conditions by examining studies that have addressed the outcomes, consumer information needs, delivery, and challenges in integrating these services.

Maren T. Scheuner, Pauline Sieverding, Paul G. Shekelle
Systematic Reviews for Evidence-Based Management: How to Find Them and What to Do with Them

Jan 1, 2004

To identify strategies for retrieval and evaluation of systematic reviews from a management perspective.

Kitty S. Chan, Sally C. Morton, Paul G. Shekelle

RAND Research Using Literature and Systematic Reviews

Church-based Interventions to Address Obesity Among African Americans and Latinos in the United States: A Systematic Review

Using Existing Systematic Reviews in Complex Systematic Reviews

Systematic Reviews for Occupational Safety and Health Questions: Resources for Evidence Synthesis

Twelve Recommendations for Integrating Existing Systematic Reviews Into New Reviews: EPC Guidance

A Proposed Approach May Help Systematic Reviews Retain Needed Expertise While Minimizing Bias from Nonfinancial Conflicts of Interest

Surveillance and Identification of Signals for Updating Systematic Reviews: Implementation and Early Experience

Designing Efficient Systematic Reviews Using Economical Allocation, Creation and Synthesis of Medical Evidence

Assessment of a Method to Detect Signals for Updating Systematic Reviews

AHRQ Series on Complex Intervention Systematic Reviews: Selecting Analytic Approaches

Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Summary of Findings (SoF) Tables to Improve Understanding in the Presentation of Systematic Review Results: A Three-Arm, Randomised, Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial

Challenges in Systematic Reviews of Qualitative Research

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in CAM: Contribution and Challenges

Diagnosing and Managing Common Food Allergies: A Systematic Review

Delivery of Genomic Medicine for Common Chronic Adult Diseases: A Systematic Review

Systematic Reviews for Evidence-Based Management: How to Find Them and What to Do with Them