drshailesh88 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):
| Database | Best For |
|---|---|
| PubMed | Biomedical, clinical |
| Cochrane Library | Systematic reviews |
| EMBASE | Pharmacology, European |
| Google Scholar | Gray literature, coverage |
| bioRxiv/medRxiv | Preprints, cutting edge |
Search Strategy Elements:
- MeSH/controlled vocabulary terms
- Free-text synonyms
- Boolean operators
- Field restrictions as needed
3. Screening & Selection
- Deduplication - Remove duplicate records
- Title screening - Exclude obviously irrelevant
- Abstract review - Apply inclusion criteria
- Full-text evaluation - Final eligibility check
- 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
| Study Type | Assessment Tool |
|---|---|
| RCTs | Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2) |
| Observational | Newcastle-Ottawa Scale |
| Systematic reviews | AMSTAR 2 |
| Diagnostic | QUADAS-2 |
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
- Document everything - Search strategies, screening decisions, extraction forms
- Search multiple databases - Minimum 3 for comprehensive coverage
- Include preprints - For most current findings
- Assess study quality - Don't treat all evidence equally
- Synthesize thematically - Never list studies sequentially
- Acknowledge limitations - Search constraints, publication bias
- Verify every citation - Accuracy is non-negotiable