5.2.3 Introduction

Every systematic review requires a clear and meaningful introductory section. Given the international circulation of systematic reviews, it is important to state variations in local understandings of clinical practice (including ‘usual practice’), health service management and client or patient experiences. The introduction should describe and situate the phenomena of interest under review, as well as the population and context. The introduction should cover the main elements of the topic under review. The purpose of the introduction is to:

• Situate the PICo and put the inclusion criteria into context;

• Provide context to the review;

• Define key terms and list operational definitions;

• Refer to existing international literature to support and inform the inclusion criteria;

• Provide indication that the review question has not been addressed previously; and

• Justify the rationale and conduct of the review.

The introduction should avoid synthesizing findings from multiple authors given this is exactly what your review will aim to achieve. It should, however, provide some indication that there is evidence available that will be included in your review and inform your question. The introduction should also include a statement that a preliminary search for existing systematic reviews on the topic has been conducted (state the sources searched e.g. JBI Evidence Synthesis, Cochrane Database, CINAHL, PubMed, PROSPERO where relevant). If there is an existing systematic review, it should be specified how the proposed review will differ.