What does “Systematic review” mean?

A structured synthesis of all the studies meeting defined criteria on a question, often with a meta-analysis combining their results.

Systematic review in plain English

A structured synthesis of all the studies meeting defined criteria on a question, often with a meta-analysis combining their results.

Systematic reviews sit near the top of the evidence hierarchy because they reduce the influence of any single unrepresentative study.

Cochrane reviews are the best-known examples. Several exist in this field, and their conclusions are consistently more cautious than the claims made in marketing.

Frequently asked questions

What does systematic review mean?

A structured synthesis of all the studies meeting defined criteria on a question, often with a meta-analysis combining their results.

Sources and further reading

Every factual statement on this page is drawn from the following public sources. Links open in a new tab and are not affiliated with Flora House.

  1. NICE guideline NG144: Cannabis-based medicinal products
  2. NHS: Medical cannabis (and cannabis oils)
  3. MHRA: The supply, manufacture, importation and distribution of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use

Patient guide · Written by the Flora House editorial team · Last reviewed: 8 September 2026