Reviewing the Literature Systematically: Interpretation of the Expected Value of Perfect Information

Abstract

Systematic review skills are required in almost all areas of health services research. This case study describes a systematic review originally undertaken for a master’s dissertation in health economics and health policy. In this project, we conducted a systematic review using novel searching techniques, applied a qualitative research method to fragments of text extracted from published literature, and analyzed the results both pictorially and statistically. We detail the steps involved in conducting a systematic review, and describe the qualitative discourse analysis and quantitative graphical and statistical analyses that we undertook. We also describe the further steps we needed to take to ensure that the results were publishable in a peer-reviewed journal. Reading this case study will give students an insight into the processes that are standard in any systematic review and encouragement to try novel techniques.

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