A systematic review is the highest-impact form of academic research synthesis — and the most methodologically demanding. AcademiQ's specialist reviewers design and conduct PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic reviews and meta-analyses from database search to final manuscript, ready for Q1 journal submission.
A systematic review is a rigorous, structured synthesis of existing research on a defined question — conducted using a reproducible, pre-specified protocol designed to minimise bias. Unlike a narrative literature review, which synthesises sources selected at the author's discretion, a systematic review follows explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria applied consistently across every source identified through a comprehensive database search. This methodological rigour places systematic reviews at the top of the evidence hierarchy — making them the most impactful and most citable form of academic output across medicine, health sciences, social sciences, education, and beyond.
A meta-analysis is the statistical component of a systematic review — quantitatively combining the results of multiple independent studies to produce a pooled estimate of effect size. Meta-analyses report forest plots (showing the effect size and confidence interval of each included study and the overall pooled estimate), heterogeneity statistics (I² and Q test, measuring consistency across studies), funnel plots (assessing publication bias), and subgroup analyses (testing whether effect sizes differ across population subgroups, intervention types, or study designs). Together, systematic review and meta-analysis constitute the gold standard of evidence synthesis.
The PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement defines the reporting standard required by all major journals. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review includes a pre-specified protocol (ideally registered on PROSPERO), documented Boolean search strings for each database, a PRISMA flow diagram tracking records through identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion, a quality appraisal table, a standardised data extraction table, and a synthesis section. AcademiQ delivers every element of PRISMA 2020 compliance from protocol design to final manuscript.
AcademiQ's systematic review service covers the full pipeline — from PICO or SPIDER question framing and protocol design, through multi-database search (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO), title/abstract and full-text screening, quality appraisal, data extraction, and statistical synthesis. We also advise on PROSPERO registration to protect your protocol and signal methodological rigour to journal editors. Whether you need a full systematic review from scratch or a standalone meta-analysis added to completed screening, AcademiQ delivers to Q1 journal submission standard.
A pre-registered review protocol with research question framed using PICO (quantitative) or SPIDER (qualitative) — the foundation of a defensible systematic review.
Systematic search across 3–6+ databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase) with Boolean search strings documented for each.
Title/abstract screening followed by full-text review against inclusion/exclusion criteria. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram generated with exact numbers.
Study quality assessed using CASP, RoB 2, ROBINS-I, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, or other appropriate tools — with documented scores.
Standardised extraction table capturing: author, year, country, design, sample, outcomes, key findings — ready for synthesis.
Statistical synthesis using RevMan or R (metafor). Forest plots, heterogeneity (I²), publication bias (funnel plot), and subgroup analyses delivered.
Every systematic review follows the latest PRISMA 2020 guidelines — the standard required by all major journals.
We search PubMed, Scopus, WoS, CINAHL, Embase, and grey literature — nothing missed.
We advise on PROSPERO registration to protect your protocol and prevent duplication.
Quantitative synthesis, forest plots, heterogeneity, and publication bias analysis all included.
Share your research question, population, and scope. We frame it using PICO or SPIDER and design the review protocol.
Multi-database search, two-stage screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction — all documented to PRISMA 2020 standard.
Narrative synthesis or meta-analysis with forest plots. Full manuscript delivered, journal-ready with PRISMA flow diagram.
PhD candidates and researchers conducting systematic reviews for journal submission
Healthcare professionals and clinicians synthesising evidence for clinical guidelines
Academics who have completed screening and need meta-analysis and forest plots added
Research teams preparing PROSPERO-registered protocols for funded research projects
Share your project details and we'll respond within hours with a plan, timeline, and quote — no commitment required.