Literature Review

Comprehensive, systematic literature reviews following rigorous academic methodology across biomedical and scientific domains.

Triggers

• User asks for a literature review on a topic
• User needs evidence synthesis across multiple studies
• User wants to understand the current state of research
• User is preparing background for a newsletter or editorial
• User needs to identify research gaps

Workflow Phases

1. Planning & Scoping

Define Research Question using PICO framework:

• Population: Who is being studied?
• Intervention: What treatment/exposure?
• Comparison: Against what?
• Outcome: What results matter?

Establish Scope:

• Date range (typically 5-10 years for currency)
• Study types to include (RCTs, observational, reviews)
• Inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Languages accepted

2. Systematic Search

Required Databases (minimum 3):

Search Strategy Elements:

• MeSH/controlled vocabulary terms
• Free-text synonyms
• Boolean operators
• Field restrictions as needed

3. Screening & Selection

1. Deduplication - Remove duplicate records
2. Title screening - Exclude obviously irrelevant
3. Abstract review - Apply inclusion criteria
4. Full-text evaluation - Final eligibility check
5. Document exclusion reasons at each stage

4. Data Extraction

Extract from each included study:

• Citation information
• Study design and setting
• Sample size and characteristics
• Key findings and effect sizes
• Funding sources
• Limitations noted by authors

5. Quality Assessment

6. Synthesis

Critical: Organize thematically, NOT study-by-study.

Bad: "Smith 2020 found X. Jones 2021 found Y. Brown 2022 found Z."

Good: "The relationship between SGLT2 inhibitors and heart failure outcomes has been consistently demonstrated across multiple trials (Smith 2020, Jones 2021, Brown 2022), with effect sizes ranging from..."

Identify:

• Areas of consensus
• Contradictory findings and potential explanations
• Research gaps
• Methodological trends

7. Citation Verification

Before finalizing:

• Validate all DOIs against CrossRef
• Verify author names and dates
• Confirm journal names
• Use citation-management skill for formatting

Output Formats

For Newsletter Background

• Concise synthesis (500-1000 words)
• Key statistics highlighted
• Top 5-10 most relevant citations
• Clear clinical implications

For Editorial Foundation

• Comprehensive synthesis (1500-2500 words)
• Organized by theme/controversy
• Evidence quality assessment
• Explicit gaps identification

For Academic Manuscript

• Full systematic review format
• PRISMA flow diagram
• Risk of bias tables
• Forest plots if meta-analysis

Best Practices

1. Document everything - Search strategies, screening decisions, extraction forms
2. Search multiple databases - Minimum 3 for comprehensive coverage
3. Include preprints - For most current findings
4. Assess study quality - Don't treat all evidence equally
5. Synthesize thematically - Never list studies sequentially
6. Acknowledge limitations - Search constraints, publication bias
7. Verify every citation - Accuracy is non-negotiable