what is a systematic review?

Sorry to bother you all. I find it difficult to tell what type of evidence it is when reading an article. Can someone sum up briefly the types of evidence on level the hierarchy of evidence based nursing. is a randomised controlled trial means meta-analysis? is meta-analysis a quantitative study? pleae help me I am confused

Please, can anyone look at this article and tell me what evidence it is: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...8.CD003216/pdf

Thank you
That link requires a password. The easiest and clearest way to find out what evidence is is to look up the definition in the dictionary, and find what fits in the articles you have. YOU need to do your homework ... I don't want a nurse taking care of me who had her homework done my some nurse she doesn't know, and didn't absorb the information herself- This really is the way you learn- when you have some items that you don't understand after going through information, and at least taking a stab at the assignment, there will probably be a lot of people willing to discuss your homework- but not do it for you. A LOT of students "drop off" their homework here, and come back later to see if it's been figured out- we're not going to do you any favors by doing that....and we won't be at boards when you need the answers....C'mon back with your input and ideas It'd be a good discussion- but you need to discuss, not do a "drive by" assignment And you are NOT a bother

a few of the more common types of studies you will see (in no particular order), with wikipedia links to the definitions:randomized controlled trial: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/randomi...ntrolled_trialcase study: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/case_study_researchsingle/ double blind study: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/double_...e-blind_trialsmeta-analysis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/meta-analysissurvey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/surveylongitudinal study: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/longitudinal_studysystematic review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/systematic_reviewof these, your study will also be either: qualitative research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/qualitative_researchquantitative research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quantitative_methodsread through the links to learn about different research methods. then compare the qualities of your article to the definitions and find the best fit. once you become more familiar with the types of research, it will be easier to recognize what you are reading.

Try this link: http://ebp.lib.uic.edu/nursing/node/12 Cochrane review should be at the top, but it isn't included in this link.

Quote from wtbcrnaTry this link: http://ebp.lib.uic.edu/nursing/node/12 Cochrane review should be at the top, but it isn't included in this link.

Meta analysis i think is the top, the highest. It combines a bunch of studies on one topic to come up with its own conclusion. So it could be an analysis of lets say, 5 different studies on the same topic. It may or may not have the same conclusion as the other studies. Make sense???systematic review, i BELIEVE is just a review of the literature. It reviews everything that is out there, not necessarily coming up with its own conclusion, although it may, but more analyzing the studies that are out there.They are VERY similar.I think that is how it goes, but don't quote me on that.

http://ebp.lib.uic.edu/nursing/node/12Ashley and wtbcrna have given excellent informatin....