Unbiased approaches for reviewing entomology literature: A systematized review

Authors: OLIVEIRA, ANA - Kansas State University; Cohnstaedt, Lee; CERNICCHIARO, NATALIA - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2020
Publication Date: 2/3/2021
Citation: Oliveira, A., Cohnstaedt, L.W., Cernicchiaro, N. 2021. Unbiased approaches for reviewing entomology literature: A systematized review. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 114(2):229-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saaa058.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saaa058

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of review papers is to summarize and translate literature and knowledge from individual studies and make the information easily understandable and actionable. However not all review papers are created equally and use scientific methodological approaches. Reviews using an established method, such as systematic, rapid, and scoping reviews, allows for unbiased summaries of the body of evidence, therefore the review can be used in decision and policy making. The established methods include how to select papers in an unbiased method so the reader has confidence in the conclusions which are not influenced by the author bias. The main objectives of this review are to describe some of the most common knowledge translation and synthesis methods found in the literature, how those methods are applied in the medical and veterinary entomology field, and why entomology needs to continue shifting towards a systematized review approach. We found 120 relevant articles in the literature addressing topics related to entomology and using systematic reviews of the literature or other evidence synthesis methods, which is concurrent with the ongoing trend towards the use of these methodologies. The application of unbiased approaches to entomology in general, and to medical and veterinary entomology in particular, will strengthen science- and evidence-based conclusions which can then be used to make policy or intervention decisions.

Technical Abstract: Evidence synthesis and knowledge translation are scientific methodological approaches used across different disciplines for combining results from individual studies, interpreting them based on the body of evidence and with the objective of supporting decision-making. Systematic, rapid, and scoping reviews have a direct application in human health and social care, but also in veterinary medicine, which are areas that can overlap with medical and veterinary entomology. As a scientific field, the objective of medical and veterinary entomology is to identify and quantify the role of insects as transmitters of important arthropod-borne pathogens, thus contributing to the study of human and veterinary issues of public health importance. The main objectives of this review are to describe some of the most common knowledge translation and synthesis methods found in the literature, to then review the use of systematic, rapid, and scoping reviews applied in the medical and veterinary entomology field, using a systematized review approach. We found 120 relevant articles in the literature addressing topics related to entomology and using systematic reviews of the literature or other evidence synthesis methods, which is concurrent with the ongoing trend towards the use of these methodologies. The application of unbiased approaches to entomology in general, and to medical and veterinary entomology in particular, will strengthen science- and evidence-based conclusions which can then be used to make policy or intervention decisions.