Types of Reviews

What are they?

An Umbrella Review is essentially a review of reviews. Umbrella Reviews are designed to synthesize evidence from other published systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses on a broad topic.

The JBI Handbook includes a chapter on umbrella reviews.

How long might it take to complete?

Varies, typically 6-12 months

Is a team required?

A team is not required for this type of review.

What are the protocols that are preferred or required?

Protocols can be registered on Prospero.

PRISMA-P reporting guidelines give guidance of what to include in a protocol.

When would you use this type of review?

To synthesize the highest levels of evidence available for a given topic, Umbrella Reviews are a response to the growing number of Systematic Reviews in biomedical literature.

Is there an example?

Zhang GQ, Chen JL, Luo Y, et al. Menopausal hormone therapy and women's health: An umbrella review. PLoS Med. 2021;18(8):e1003731. Published 2021 Aug 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1003731