Which of the following is a characteristic of a narrative review?

Which of the following is a characteristic of a narrative review?

• A. Focused on a specific hypothesis
• B. Follows a systematic approach
• C. Subjective assessment of literature
• D. Highlights statistical analysis

Answer: (C)

A narrative review is primarily characterized by its subjective assessment of literature. This type of review does not follow a strict systematic methodology; instead, it offers a comprehensive and broad overview of a particular topic by synthesizing findings from various studies. The emphasis is on summarizing different perspectives and findings rather than testing a specific hypothesis or using a systematic approach. The subjective nature allows the authors to interpret the literature in a way that reflects their insights, experiences, and understanding of the topic, which can provide valuable context and narrative that is often absent in more structured reviews like systematic reviews or meta-analyses. While this approach can introduce bias, it also enables a more personalized synthesis of the literature that can highlight evolving themes and theories in a given field.

A narrative review is primarily characterized by its subjective assessment of literature. This type of review does not follow a strict systematic methodology; instead, it offers a comprehensive and broad overview of a particular topic by synthesizing findings from various studies. The emphasis is on summarizing different perspectives and findings rather than testing a specific hypothesis or using a systematic approach.

The subjective nature allows the authors to interpret the literature in a way that reflects their insights, experiences, and understanding of the topic, which can provide valuable context and narrative that is often absent in more structured reviews like systematic reviews or meta-analyses. While this approach can introduce bias, it also enables a more personalized synthesis of the literature that can highlight evolving themes and theories in a given field.