The Difference Between Narrative Review and Systematic Review

by annydavid on Jan 12th, 2025 06:50 AM

Systematic review and narrative review. Both are secondary research that make use of already existing primary research case studies. However, there is a vast difference in objectives, applications and methodologies in each of their reviews. The systematic reviews mean to frame a question as well as possible and answer that question as well as possible using quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the whole data available. In this paper, I will tell you about the difference between these two reviews. What your reviews will include has been explained in the points given-below which you will find quite easy to understand.

Objectives: Systematic Review v/s Narrative Review

Narrative reviews objective: The scope of narrative reviews is thus wide. It is possible for narrative reviews to address one or several topics and follow history in the make-up of a scientific principle or principal. The syntheses of existing literature and comprehensive understanding that are captured in these narrative reviews are usually the main foci of these narrative reviews. Such narrative is used to understand the historical process this research field has undergone through time or track the evolution of a concept. This kind of border exploration is often very confined under strict systematic review guidelines.

Systematic review objective: A systematic review is to conduct systematic investigations to answer specific queries. A systematic review is very specific in what it covers, whereas a narrative review is more comprehensive in what it includes. It evaluates available evidence systematically, in quantitative and qualitative ways. The systematic review aims to give precise and valid answers to clinical and policy decisions.

Difference of Methodology in systematic and Narrative Review

Systematic review methodology: A systematic review involves a clear, pre-specified and transparent methodology. Examples of it are PRISMA, ROSES, Cochrane Handbook statement, etc., that frame the protocol and methodology for systematic reviews. The systematic approach is quite complex as mentioned below:

1. Framing the Research Question: Formulate a clinical research question using the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) approach towards defining a clinical research question.

2. Data Extraction: Collecting relevant data per my studies through data extraction.

3. Critical Appraisal: Quality appraisal for the selected studies.

Narrative review methodology: Narrative reviews aren't strictly bound with protocols. The design depends upon the performance of the author and purpose of the review, i.e., the performance of the author, while IMRAD likes some structure: introduction, methods, results, and discussion. Narrative reviews have a lot of flexibility, but the absence of a standardized approach makes them less reliable than systematic reviews.

Strengths and Limitations

Narrative review Strengths: Systematic reviews have a very powerful strength in the form of their methodology, which is made structured and open so that the exercise results can be trustworthy.

Limitations: This is systematic reviews that are time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Systematic review strenths: The major strength of narrative reviews is flexibility above all. They suit a broader scope and are aptly used in situations with no strict protocols in place.

Limitations: The absence of a standardized methodology has made them more susceptible to bias and less reliability.

Conclusion

Narrative review and systematic review are two research methods. However, the choice of this method entirely depends on the set objectives of the researcher. Thus, the systematic reviews are very gold standard when it comes to evidence based decisions and policy formulation; while, the narrative reviews serve as an excellent medium for understanding and garnering more knowledge synthesizing.

Hence, the researchers must take carefully informed choices between reviews on the basis of resources and time considerations. The narrative reviews afford the chance to explore flexibility; they provide room for exploration of flexibility but the versatility and structured approach of systematic reviews make them more reliable. If both types of reviews are employed properly, they could bring about phenomenal growth in research and practice as well.

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