Systematic Reviews of Literature: Their Importance and Preparation Using the PRISMA Protocol

Abstract

This article highlights one of the most important secondary sources of information, namely systematic reviews of literature. This form of information source remains a major focus of interest among researchers, particularly in the health sciences. The article is intended as a practical guide that facilitates the preparation of systematic reviews for researchers, especially those working in the social sciences and humanities, according to the well-known PRISMA protocol. First issued in 2009 and updated more than once, PRISMA provides a structured framework for reporting systematic reviews. This article relies on the latest 2020 version of the protocol, which consists of seven main sections and twenty-seven items, with the aim of helping researchers prepare rigorous systematic reviews.