The IAO Systematic Review Award is awarded every year to the best articles in systematic review, including meta-analyses, published in the International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (IAO) that seeks to highlight articles that form the foundations and concepts of universal knowledge.[1] In 2021, it was awarded to the three best systematic and/or literature reviews that were published in the journal in the year 2020 ([Table 1]).[2] [3] [4] This award was established to encourage the submission of high-quality systematic review articles.

Systematic review is a method of evidence synthesis that critically assesses and interprets all relevant research available regarding a particular issue, area of knowledge, or phenomenon of interest. Statistical methods (meta-analysis) are usually included in the analysis and synthesis of results, allowing the increase of the sample size and accuracy of the assessed outcomes.[5] Systematic reviews and meta-analysis are at the top of the pyramid of evidence. They provide the highest level of evidence to verify the effectiveness of interventions, help health professionals to stay up to date with latest developments, provide evidence for decision making, enable evaluation of the risks and benefits of interventions, provide inputs for assistance guidelines development, and provide information on prior studies for potential funding sources for new research.[1] We suggest the use of guidelines for elaboration and conduction of systematic review using well-defined and explicit methods aimed at minimizing biases.[5] [6]

The competing works must be published in editions 1 to 4 in the year before the award. The rules for manuscript submission are available at http://www.thieme.com/iao. The judging commission, comprising of members of the editorial board, will be coordinated by the chief editor of this journal. Articles will be judged based on scientific merit, including originality, consistency, significance, and impact. The winning authors and co-authors will receive certificates for their work. The best systematic reviews will be announced in the last edition of each volume of the following publication year, thus providing enough time to accumulate citations needed for analyses.

With this effort, we wish to honor and show our appreciation to the deserving authors, and encourage new talents in international otorhinolaryngological research with a commitment to stimulate education and technological development through research and training.

We are pleased to announce the studies IAO Systematic Review Award 2021, as shown in [Table 1].



Conflict of Interests
The authors have none to declare.

References
1 Jotz GP, Bittencourt AG, Montefusco AM. IAO Systematic Review Award 2020. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 24 (04) e397-e398 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718748.
2 Gore MR. Lemierre Syndrome: A Meta-analysis. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 24 (03) e379-e385 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3402433.
3 Parilli-Troconis D, Baptista P, Marcano-Lozada M, Goncalves S, Shahal D, Chiossone-Kerdel JA. COVID-19 Infection and Its Influence in Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 24 (04) e527-e534 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715586.
4 Hojaij FC, Chinelatto LA, Boog GHP, Kasmirski JA, Lopes JVZ, Medeiros VMB. Head and Neck Practice in the COVID-19 Pandemics Today: A Rapid Systematic Review. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 24 (04) e518-e526 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715506.
5 Ministério da Saúde (BR). Diretrizes Metodológicas: Elaboração de Revisão Sistemática e Metanálise de Ensaios Clínicos Randomizados [Methodological guideline: development of systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials] [Internet]. Brasilia - DF: Ministério da Saúde; 2015. [cited 2020 Sep 22]. 92 p. Available from: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/diretrizes_metodologicas_ensaio_clinico_randomizado_1edicao.pdf
6 Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J. et al., Eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.1 (updated September 2020) [Internet]. Cochrane; 2020 [cited 2020 Sep 22]. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook

Address for correspondence
Geraldo Pereira Jotz, MD, PhD
Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, Prédio do ICBS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170
Brazil
Email: iaorl@iaorl.org

Publication History
Article published online:
25 January 2022