How to Write the Abstract for a Review Article

A concise, informative abstract is the gateway to any review article. Editors and readers often decide whether to read a full review based on the abstract alone. It must therefore reflect the article’s purpose, scope, method, main findings, and implications in a single, well-structured snapshot.

Research journals assign different priorities to review abstracts depending on the review type. For systematic reviews, adherence to reporting checklists such as PRISMA is expected, while narrative or topical reviews emphasize synthesis and scholarly perspective.

Why Review Article Abstracts Require a Different Approach

Review articles synthesize existing literature rather than report original experimental results. As a result, a review abstract must:

• Clarify the review’s question or scope
• Explain how literature was identified and selected (when applicable)
• Summarize the principal synthesis or conclusions
• Indicate the review’s contribution to the field

Unlike original research abstracts which typically foreground methods and a single result review abstracts must emphasize either:

• Search and selection strategy (systematic reviews), or
• Conceptual or thematic framework (narrative reviews)

Systematic Reviews and PRISMA

For systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the PRISMA 2020 abstract checklist specifies required elements, including:

• Identification as a systematic review
• Objectives or research questions
• Eligibility criteria
• Information sources and search dates
• Risk-of-bias assessment
• Number and characteristics of included studies
• Main results and conclusions

Following PRISMA improves transparency and allows rapid assessment of rigor.

Key Differences at a Glance

• Purpose
  • Original research: Reports one study’s hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions
  • Review articles: Define scope and synthesize findings across multiple studies
• Methods reporting
  • Systematic reviews: Explicit reporting of databases, dates, inclusion criteria, and bias assessment
  • Narrative reviews: Emphasis on intellectual framework and synthesis approach
• Structure
  • Systematic reviews: Often require structured abstracts
  • Narrative reviews: Usually unstructured but still demand clarity and coherence

What an Effective Review Abstract Must Do

An effective review abstract should:

• State the review type and central objective
• Summarize the literature identification method (where applicable)
• Highlight key themes, trends, or synthesized findings
• Present the main conclusion and implications
• Include keywords that improve discoverability

How to Write an Abstract for a Review Article: Step-by-Step

1. Identify the Review Type Explicitly

State whether the article is a systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping review, or narrative/critical review. This immediately signals the expected level of methodological detail.

2. State the Objective or Guiding Question

Summarize the purpose in one focused sentence describing the problem, population, or phenomenon.

3. Briefly Describe the Methods (If Applicable)

For systematic or scoping reviews, include:

• Databases searched
• Date range or last search date
• Inclusion criteria
• Synthesis approach

Example:
“Systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through March 2024; inclusion of randomized controlled trials in adults; narrative synthesis.”

For narrative reviews, describe the conceptual frame and selection rationale succinctly.

4. Summarize Main Findings or Themes

Report:

• Number of included studies (if relevant)
• Major patterns, themes, or effect directions
• Key quantitative outcomes for meta-analyses

Avoid excessive numerical detail.

5. Present Conclusions and Implications

End with the central takeaway and explain how the review advances understanding, identifies gaps, or informs practice or policy.

6. Follow Structure, Wording, and Length Requirements

• Check whether the journal requires a structured or unstructured abstract
• Adhere strictly to word limits (typically 150-350 words)
• Avoid citations and excessive abbreviations

7. Optimize for Discoverability

Include 3-6 keywords or phrases, placing the most important terms early in the abstract to improve indexing.

8. Revise for Accuracy and Consistency

Ensure all claims align with the manuscript. Discrepancies between abstract and text are a common reviewer concern.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overloading the abstract with background at the expense of findings
• Including claims not supported in the manuscript
• Omitting key procedural details in systematic reviews
• Ignoring journal-specific abstract structure or word limits

Short Illustrative Templates

• Systematic review (structured)
  Background – Objectives – Methods – Results – Conclusions
• Narrative review (unstructured)
  Scope → approach → synthesized themes → implications

Practical Tips That Help

• Write the abstract after completing the manuscript
• State the last search date for systematic reviews
• Use plain language in the opening sentences
• Seek peer or professional editorial review

When to Use Reporting Checklists

• PRISMA 2020 is essential for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Strongly recommended by many journals
• Improves transparency and editorial evaluation

Conclusion and Next Steps

Writing a strong review abstract requires balancing scope, method, synthesis, and implication in a compact format. Systematic reviews should strictly follow PRISMA guidance, while narrative reviews should foreground purpose, approach, and scholarly contribution.

For authors seeking editorial support, professional services such as Enago’s abstract writing service can help ensure clarity, compliance, and discoverability.