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Editorial
. 2018 Oct 27;7(1):176.
doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0833-3.

Partially systematic thoughts on the history of systematic reviews

Mike Clarke  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Partially systematic thoughts on the history of systematic reviews

Mike Clarke. Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Six years after the launch of Systematic Reviews by Biomed Central, this article is part of the celebration of the journal. It contains personal reflections on the past, present and future of systematic reviews, using examples relevant to the role of systematic reviews in cataloguing and analysing research, assessing quality and planning new studies. The focus is on the most common of the various types of systematic review in health and social care, namely those assessing the effects of interventions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

I have spent most of my research career working in topics related to health and social care, for which systematic reviews play an important role. My employment and income depends in part on the value placed on systematic reviews.

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Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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