Knowledge Syntheses are research methods which gather, appraise, synthesize and analyze existing research on a topic. Systematic reviews and scoping reviews are two types of knowledge syntheses, but there are many other types of literature reviews as well. The type of knowledge synthesis method that is appropriate for your question depends on what you are aiming to find out as well as practical concerns around time and other resources you have available to you.
Depending upon the purpose of your review, and the time and resources you have available, a systematic review or scoping review may not be the best option. Consider the types of literature reviews available to determine the most appropriate one for your project.
HealthSearch is a fee-based health information research service providing custom tailored medical and health-related information to health professionals and organizations outside the UHN community. HealthSearch is a UHN service and operates within UHN Library and Information Services.
A librarian or Information Specialist can be a valuable part of your Systematic Review or Knowledge Synthesis Team. Information Specialists at UHN have expertise in searching for evidence and in developing search strategies for systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and other knowledge synthesis projects. We can help with numerous steps throughout the planning, conducting, and reporting phases of your review, including:
An Information Specialist may be entitled to co-authorship in accordance with UHN’s Research Authorship Policy 40.60.001 and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
Your UHN Information Specialist will provide a 1-hour consult meeting during which you and/or your team can choose to receive advice, instruction or assistance on one or more of the following topics (depending upon time):
We also have group workshops available for some of these topics.
Requirements:
Service includes:
With the full knowledge synthesis service model your Information Specialist will join your project team and be entitled to co-authorship in accordance with UHN’s Research Authorship Policy 40.60.001 and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
Please fill out parts 1 and 2 of the Knowledge Synthesis Project Proposal form and submit it, along with your review protocol, to your Information Specialist before your meeting.
At your meeting with your IS, you will discuss parts 2 and 3 and finalize the Terms of Service.
The Principle Investigator (PI) must be affiliated with UHN for our team to support your review. If this is not the case, please contact the PI’s hospital or university for support, or contact HealthSearch.
Please note: Most knowledge synthesis projects are an 8-12 month commitment, if not more, and the initial searches can take 6-8 weeks. Suggested timelines for a Cochrane Review.
Requirements:
Service includes:
Most knowledge synthesis services are provided without charge to members of the UHN community. Some additional services can be provided for a fee:
Grey (unpublished) literature searching |
$90/hr |
Duplicates Removal |
$60-$90/hr |
Hand searching of selected journals |
$60-$90/hr |
Searching of individual conferences |
$60-$90/hr |
Participating in screening process |
$90/hr |
Retrieving full text (hard or e-copies) |
$5 per article plus any charges levied by the lending institution |