A postgraduate student wants to answer the research question: “Does exclusive breastfeeding reduce the risk of eczema in infants?” She creates a strict search strategy with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, screens multiple databases, and critically appraises all included studies. What type of study is she conducting?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Systematic review uses a predefined search strategy, explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria, comprehensive database searches, and critical appraisal of all included studies — exactly the steps described.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Systematic review: a study that uses a transparent, pre-specified protocol to identify, screen, select, and critically appraise all relevant studies on a focused question. It aims to minimize bias through comprehensive searching and standardized methods.
- Meta-analysis: a quantitative statistical technique that pools numerical results from multiple studies; often performed within a systematic review but not mandatory.
- Cohort study: an observational primary study that follows exposed and unexposed groups over time to compare incident outcomes.
- Cross-sectional study: a primary study that measures exposure and outcome at a single point in time.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- The student created a strict search strategy with predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria: hallmark of systematic review methodology.
- She screened multiple databases: indicates comprehensive literature searching, another requirement for systematic reviews.
- She critically appraised included studies: systematic reviews routinely assess study quality/risk of bias.
- Nothing in the description indicates she is following individual participants over time (cohort) or measuring exposure/outcome at one time point (cross-sectional). Nor does it state she pooled study effect sizes statistically.

3) Calculations
- No numerical calculations are required here. The identification is based on methodological features, not arithmetic.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- The described activities (protocolized search, multiple databases, screening, critical appraisal) are the defining processes of a systematic review. A meta-analysis could be part of the review if she then combined effect estimates, but that extra step was not mentioned.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- Meta-analysis: incorrect because it specifically refers to statistical pooling; the student’s actions describe review methodology but do not state that she performed quantitative pooling.
- Cohort study: incorrect because that would involve recruiting or following individuals to observe incidence of eczema after breastfeeding exposure, not literature searching.
- Cross-sectional study: incorrect because that design captures data at a single time point from subjects, not an organized literature synthesis.

6) Conclusion
The described study is a systematic review, which matches the provided answer: Systematic review.

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