AG-T03: Narrative Review — Scope, Structure, and SANRA Guideline for Expert Evidence Synthesis
A Practical Guide to Writing High-Quality Narrative Reviews for the Georgian Medical Journal
Keywords:
narrative review, SANRA guideline, literature synthesis, academic writing, evidence interpretation, research methodology, scientific publishing, scope statement, selective citation, review structure, GMJ AcademyAbstract
The GMJ Author Toolkit (AG-T03) provides a structured, self-contained guide for the preparation and submission of Narrative Reviews in accordance with academic best practices. Unlike systematic reviews, narrative reviews rely on expert synthesis rather than a predefined protocol, requiring clarity of scope, balanced interpretation of evidence, and transparent structure.
The guide is organized into three components: (1) theoretical foundations explaining when a narrative review is appropriate and how it differs from systematic reviews; (2) a comprehensive pre-submission checklist aligned with journal standards, including scope definition, structured synthesis, and citation balance; and (3) a worked example demonstrating introduction with scope statement, thematic organization, and integration of contradictory evidence.
The toolkit incorporates the SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles) framework as a recommended quality standard and emphasizes methodological transparency, critical interpretation, and academic rigor. This resource aims to support authors in producing clear, balanced, and publication-ready narrative reviews for the Georgian Medical Journal.
References
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[2] European Food Safety Authority. Guidance on safety assessment of botanicals. EFSA J. 2009;7(9):280.
[3] Pkhakadze G. Georgian supplement market 2024: 3,782 products from 79 companies. Georgian Med J. 2026;3(1).
[4] Rechel B, McKee M. Health reform in central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Lancet. 2009;374(9696):1186-95.
[5] EFSA. Analysis of EFSA opinions on novel food applications 2002–2020. Parma: EFSA; 2021.
[6] Ronis MJ, Pedersen KB, Watt J. Adverse effects of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2018;58:583-601.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Giorgi Pkhakadze
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