Systematic reviews play a key role in evidence-based medicine by summarizing and analyzing all available research related to a specific clinical question. Compared to narrative reviews, they follow a more structured and transparent approach, which helps reduce bias and improve the reliability of findings. This makes them particularly valuable for informing clinical practice and policy.
Before starting a systematic review, it is essential to develop a detailed protocol. The protocol outlines the background, objectives, and methods of the review, including how studies will be selected, how data will be extracted, and how the quality of the evidence will be assessed. Having a well-defined protocol helps ensure consistency throughout the review process and makes the results more credible and reproducible.
In addition, registering or publishing a protocol in advance—such as in the PROSPERO database—can improve transparency and help prevent duplication of work or selective reporting of results. For students and researchers new to systematic reviews, writing a protocol is a valuable learning experience that provides insight into how to frame clinical questions, evaluate evidence, and apply rigorous research methods.