Universitätsbibliothek Mainz

Systematic Reviews for Medicine and Related Subjects

Are you planning on conducting a systematic review? You need help with your literature search? Do you want to make sure that you have found all relevant articles? And you would like to network with others? Then contact the University Library’s Systematic Reviews Guidance and Advising Service.

Four reasons to work with us:

  1. You save time.
  2. Involving independent information specialists can promote a more objective literature search.
  3. A newly published paper concludes that systematic reviews “with librarian or information specialist co-authors are correlated with significantly higher quality reported search strategies”.
  4. Likewise, other recognized organizations like the Institute of Medicine, Cochrane, and the Working Group of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany also adopt this approach.

What we have to offer

Workshop Systematic Review

Next workshop:

Friday, January 24, 2025 and Friday, January 31, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the University Medical Library
Register
 

The emphasis is on literature search and the documentation process, but other pertinent topics are also explored. Following short presentations, there will be tips, exercises, and group work on the following topics:

  • Building a team
  • Developing a research question (formulating a research question–PICO Framework)
  • Review protocol (PROSPERO)
  • Literature search and documentation process
    • Preparing your search–terms and topic blocks
    • Selecting a database–PubMed and Co.
    • Conducting a database search
    • Documenting the final search
    • Managing literature and checking for duplicates
  • Selecting relevant studies
  • Assessing the quality of studies
  • Extracting data from studies
  • Analysis and synthesis of studies

​​​​​​​Praxisleitfaden Systematische Literaturrecherche

Together with the Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik (IMBEI, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics), we have created this practical guide featuring useful tips and step-by-step examples. Tip: IMBEI also offers statistical advising services.

This practical guide has been awarded the title of “Leuchtturmprojekt 2020” by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für medizinisches Bibliothekswesen (AGMB, German Medical Library Association).

Tools to assist with the screening process

For a larger number of meetings, we recommend using software to support and document the screening process and manage your references. Several providers offer tools that facilitate and support collaboration among multiple people on a project.

The University Library is excited to offer a trial phase for Nested Knowledge . This evidence synthesis tool aids in systematic literature researches and allows for efficient analysis of scientific sources. The trial phase will run until April 2025.

Users who are interested can register for access by sending an email to bbum@ub.uni-mainz.de with the following details:

  • Re: Interest in the Nested Knowledge trial phase
  • Your name
  • Your Institution/Facility
  • Your email address

You will be sent an invitation to access the platform. 

Systematic Reviews Club (SeaRCh)

We hold workshops on topics related to systematic reviews.

This hands-on workshop with practical exercises is aimed at young scientists in medicine and related subjects who would like to learn more about the publishing process:

  • Get to know the publication process
  • Journal selection—How do you find suitable journals for your topic in Web of Science?
  • JCR–Impact Factor—How should the Impact Factor be assessed, particularly in relation to your subject area?

Duration: 60 minutes

Next workshop:
Monday, April 29, 2024, 2:30—3:30 p.m.
Online via MS Teams: Register

This hands-on workshop with practical exercises is aimed at young scientists in medicine and related subjects who would like to learn more about the publishing process:

  • Open Access publication–What are the fees? What funding opportunities are there?
  • How to recognize fake journals (Predatory Journals)?

Duration: 60 minutes

Next workshop:
Monday, April 29, 2024, 4—5 p.m.
Online via MS Teams: Register

In this Journal Club, we aim to critically assess randomized controlled trials (RCT), systematic reviews, meta-analyses, qualitative studies, cohort studies, case controls, etc. We are guided by the CASP checklists.
Following a brief introduction to the method, the paper is read and in small groups and assessed using a checklist. We then review and discuss the results together.

Course duration: approx. 90 minutes

If you would like to be notified when the next “Medicine Journal Club” takes place, please get in touch at bbum@ub.uni-mainz.de, or sign up for the mailing list at https://lists.uni-mainz.de/sympa/info/um-journal-club

Through this workshop with exercises, we aim to offer you an easy and supplementary research method for finding more articles on your topic or research.

This supplementary research method is the citation search.

With this form of citation search, studies are identified using direct citation links:

  • These can be found in the bibliography of an original study (backward citation searching)
  • or in studies that cite the original (forward citation searching).

An extended form of citation search is the tracking of indirect citation connections. Here we look for:

  • Co-citing (studies that reference the studies cited by an original study) and
  • Co-cited (studies referenced by the citing studies of an original study) studies

We will be using databases such as Web of Science and Google Scholar, along other tools to help you automate this process.

Next workshop:
Tuesday, December 10,2024, 2—4 p.m. 
Online: Register

Guidance and Advising Services

In this advising service, we analyze your research strategy and provide tips for improvement. For further information, please contact us by email at bbum@ub.uni-mainz.de.

For guidance on a specific project, please fill out the following Form for preparing for the advising service (e.g. type of reviews, PICO scheme, inclusion/exclusion criteria) and we will get back to you as soon as possible to arrange a personal advising session with you.

If you’re conducting a systematic review:

If you are not conducting a systematic review but need guidance with literature research, or if you are considering initiating a systematic review project–schedule an individual appointment in that case as well.

To participate in the guidance offers and workshops, we require basic knowledge of PubMed and EndNote (this helps ensure a more efficient experience for everyone).

If you have limited experience with PubMed, EndNote or Word, we invite you to join our (online) courses .

Portfolio

We would appreciate being mentioned in your publication and believe that co-authorship is appropriate for projects in which extensive guidance was provided.

2024

Schwab, R., Schiestl, L. J., Cascant Ortolano, L., Klecker, P. H., Schmidt, M. W., Almstedt, K., Heimes, A. S., Brenner, W., Stewen, K., Schmidt, M., & Hasenburg, A. (2024). Efficacy of pembrolizumab in advanced cancer of the vulva: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis. Frontiers in oncology, 14, 1352975. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1352975

Stingl, J. V., Cascant Ortolano, L., Azuara-Blanco, A., & Hoffmann, E. M. (2024). Systematic review of instruments for the assessment of patient reported outcomes and quality of life in childhood glaucoma patients. Ophthalmology. Glaucoma, S2589-4196(24)00036-X. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogla.2024.02.009

2023

Hansa J, Merzenich H, Cascant Ortolano L, Klug SJ, Blettner M, Gianicolo E. Health risks of titanium dioxide (TiO2) dust exposure in occupational settings–A scoping review. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2023;252:114212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114212

Rohde, A. (Koord.) (2023). S2k Leitlinie: Katastrophenmedizinische präklinische Behandlungsleitlinien. AWMF-Leitlinien-Registernummer 001-043 https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/001-043

2022

DGI, DGZMK. (2022). S3-Leitlinie: Zahnimplantatversorgungen bei multiplen Zahnnichtanlagen und Syndromen. AWMF-Registernummer: 083-024. Version: October 2022. Valid until: Oktober 2023. Available at: https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/083-024

Ernst, M., Niederer, D., Werner, A. M., Czaja, S. J., Mikton, C., Ong, A. D., Rosen, T., Brähler, E., & Beutel, M. E. (2022). Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review with meta-analysis. American Psychologist, 77(5), 660–677. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001005

Galata, C.; Cascant Ortolano, L.; Shafiei, S.; Hetjens, S.; Müller, L.; Stauber, R.H.; Stamenovic, D.; Roessner, E.D.; Karampinis, I. Are Routine Chest X-rays Necessary following Thoracic Surgery? A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers 2022, 14, 4361. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14184361

Hartmann, A.; Schmohl, J.; Cascant Ortolano, L.; Bayer, O.; Schweizer, S.; Welte-Jzyk, C.; Al-Nawas, B.; Daubländer, M. Therapy of Neurophysiological Changes after Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery—A Systematic Review. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 1507. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031507

Linz, V. C., Löwe, A., van der Ven, J., Hasenburg, A., & Battista, M. J. (2022). Incidence of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma after isolated STIC diagnosis: A systematic review of the literature. Frontiers in oncology, 12, 951292. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.951292

Schmidt, M.W.; Battista, M.J.; Schmidt, M.; Garcia, M.; Siepmann, T.; Hasenburg, A.; Anic, K. Efficacy and Safety of Immunotherapy for Cervical Cancer—A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Cancers 2022, 14, 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14020441

2021

Hartmann, A., Kämmerer, P., Cascant Ortolano, L., Sagheb, K., Seiler, M. (in press) Customized products for orbital wall reconstruction—a systematic review. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oct 2021. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2021.10.005

2020

Schiegnitz, E. (Koord.) (2020). S3 Leitlinie: Keramikimplantate. AWMF-Leitlinien-Registernummer 083-039. Available at https://www.awmf.org/en/clinical-practice-guidelines/detail/anmeldung/1/ll/083-039.html

Dietz, P., Reichel, J. L., Edelmann, D., Werner, A. M., Tibubos, A. N., Schäfer, M., Simon, P., Letzel, S., Pfirrmann, D. (2020). A Systematic Umbrella Review on the Epidemiology of Modifiable Health Influencing Factors and on Health Promoting Interventions Among University Students. Frontiers in public health, 8, 137-137. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00137

Riccetti, N., Werner, A. M., Ernst, M., Hempler, I., & Singer, S. (2020). Informations- und Unterstützungsbedürfnisse krebskranker Migrant*innen und ethnischer Minderheiten–ein Umbrella-Review. Der Onkologe. DOI: 10.1007/s00761-020-00827-1

Stay up to date

If you are interested in the topic and would like to receive information about systematic reviews (tips for improving your research, new databases, tools for more efficient work, events, etc.), you can subscribe to our SeaRCH News.

About Us

Our team works in accordance with current evidence-based practice, follows international guidelines and keeps abreast of developments in the field of literature research methodology. The team has attended international courses at the University of Oxford as well as in Germany at the Medical Faculty Mannheim and the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies. We are active members of the Working Group AG Evidenzbasierte Medizin of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für medizinisches Bibliothekswesen (AGMB registered association, German Medical Library Association). On a European scale, we are members of the European Association for Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL), where Lorena Cascant Ortolano was elected as the German representative on the EHAIL Council.

  • Schweizer S, Vogel C, Weiner O. Können wir künstliche Intelligenzen wie ChatGPT produktiv für die medizinbibliothekarische Arbeit nutzen? GMS Med Bibl Inf. 2023;23(1):Doc04. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000554, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0005546
  • Cascant Ortolano L, Buroh S, von Gernler M, Krause E, Härkönen S, Ewald H. Forschungsnahe Dienstleistungen in den Bibliotheken der Mitglieder der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evidenzbasierte Medizin (AG-EBM) der AGMB. GMS Med Bibl Inf. 2023;23(1):Doc12. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000562, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0005624
  • Buroh, S., Cascant Ortolano, L., & von Gernler, M. (2023). “Clubbing” with the EBMs. A brief report by the German Medical Library Association’s working group on EBM. Journal of EAHIL, 19(2), 14-16. http://ojs.eahil.eu/ojs/index.php/JEAHIL/article/view/570
  • Hoffmann D, Cascant Ortolano L, Schweizer S, Bayer O.: Systematische Reviews aus epidemiologischer Sicht–Interview mit Dorle Hoffmann und Oliver Bayer. GMS Med Bibl Inf. 2020;20(1-2):Doc10. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000467, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0004671
  • Cascant Ortolano L, Schweizer S: SWOT-Analyse zu den Dienstleistungen für Systematische Reviews medizinischer Bibliotheken in D-A-CH-Ländern. GMS Med Bibl Inf. 2020;20(1-2):Doc06.DOI: 10.3205/mbi000463, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0004633
  • Buroh S, Schweizer S: Gründung der Arbeitsgruppe Evidenzbasierte Medizin der AGMB. GMS Med Bibl Inf.2020;20(1-2):Doc09. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000466, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0004660
  • Buroh S, Cascant Ortolano L, Schweizer S: Evidenzbasierte Medizin–Chance für Medizinbibliotheken. GMS Med Bibl Inf.2020;20(1-2):Doc01. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000458, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0004589
  • Bayer O, Cascant Ortolano L, Filbert AL, Hoffmann D, Schweizer S.: Praxisleitfaden Systematische Reviews [Internet]. 2nd ed. Mainz, 2022. DOI: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8575 URL: https://openscience.ub.uni-mainz.de/handle/20.500.12030/8591.
  • Eckert K, Schweizer S: Open Access an der Universität(smedizin) Mainz. GMS Med Bibl Inf. 2019;19(1-2):Doc15. DOI: 10.3205/mbi000440, URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-mbi0004406

Contact

Any questions? We are happy to provide guidance!

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Dr. Stefanus Schweizer
Dr. Stefanus Schweizer
+49 6131 17-5138
bbum@ub.uni-mainz.de