Reading systematic reviews to answer clinical questions

Abstract

Healthcare decisions need to be informed by reliable research. This requires practitioners to phrase clear questions when being faced with a knowledge gap, find the evidence that will best answer the question, critically appraise the evidence for validity and reliability and apply the findings to the unique setting. Systematic reviews are often the first point of reference when seeking healthcare answers.This article provides a short guide on finding, reading and interpreting systematic reviews, as well as applying the results, illustrated by a clinical scenario (multiple micronutrient powders for health and nutrition in children under two years of age).