Narrative Review
From Health Facts
Latest Edit: Iva 2012-08-04 (EDT)
Although a narrative review is a type of secondary or synthesis research is not systematic in its methods. Narrative reviews are often clinical in focus, written for busy clinicians as an overview of current knowledge on a given condition or other topic of relevance. Information included is up to the discretion of the author and depends on the intended audience of the review. For this reason the risk of bias is relatively high, and the reader ought to be aware of the intent and purpose of the author when interpreting evidence provided.
Strengths
- Reviews many sources of information on a given topic
- Provides a general introduction to the subject matter
Limitations
- Not systematic in methodology
- No built-in way to limit bias
