Systematic reviews: gatekeepers of nursing knowledge

Abstract

• The past few decades have seen a considerable increase in the number of available health care products and interventions. This growth has been matched by a similar expansion in the health care literature. As a result of these factors, the demand for evidence to support practice is growing, but finding the best evidence is becoming increasingly difficult. • In response, the use of systematic reviews is increasing and they are starting to replace the primary research as the basis for health care decisions. • To date, these reviews have focused predominantly on effectiveness and so have been limited to randomized controlled trials. As a result of this, the interpretive, observational and descriptive research methods that are utilized by nursing have commonly been either excluded from the review or are classified as ‘low level’ evidence. • To address this, nursing must participate in the development of systematic review methods that better answer the questions posed by the profession.