Evidence Synthesis through “Umbrella Review”: A Procedural Framework of “Systematic Review of Reviews”

Abstract

An Umbrella Review, also known as an overview or systematic review of reviews, is a type of literature review that focuses on synthesizing evidence from multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses on a specific topic. Instead of examining individual studies, an Umbrella Review analyzes and summarizes findings from existing systematic reviews and meta- analyses, providing a higher-level overview of the available evidence. Umbrella reviews help researchers synthesise all the evidence available on a particular topic into a single, comprehensive research. This paper provides a comprehensive, step-by-step methodology with examples from existing literature and concise explanations for doing Umbrella Reviews. It is intended for those who are new to the field, including investigators and students. Umbrella Reviews are particularly useful when a large body of evidence exists, and there is a need to synthesize and make sense of the findings from multiple systematic reviews. They play a crucial role in evidence-based practice, informing decision-making and guiding future research efforts.