Systematic reviews are summaries of research evidence that address a clearly formulated question using systematic and explicit methods to:
Collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review
Systematic reviews of research evidence constitute a more appropriate source of research evidence for decision-making than the latest or most heavily publicized research study. Advantages of systematic reviews include:
Overviews of reviews are summaries of systematic reviews that address broad questions using systematic methods to:
Evidence-based policy briefs bring together 'global' research evidence (from systematic reviews) and local evidence to inform deliberations about health policies and programmes
Primary studies in Epistemonikos include all of the studies that met the inclusion criteria for the systematic reviews in Epistemonikos.
The only limitations for inclusion of primary studies in Epistemonikos are those that were established by the review authors. We have not excluded studies based on publication status, language of publication, year of publication or study design beyond whatever exclusion criteria were used by the review authors.
Structured summaries of overviews, systematic reviews and primary studies are prepared using standard headings and include critical appraisal and interpretation of the evidence that is summarised.
Typically these are prepared by someone other than the authors of the reports that are summarised and they contain more information than what is normally found in the abstracts written by the authors, which are also included in Epistemonikos.