Evidence-based Information Systems (IS) research: the case of systematic
literature review (SLR)
Abstract
Over the last decades there have been increased in the application of
information systems (IS) in the form of digital health technologies to
enhance access to healthcare services, improve healthcare quality and
efficiency of healthcare systems. Evidence on the efficiency of digital
health technologies in clinical settings to enable the adoption and
scaling up of such technologies is buried in ever increasing and complex
extant literature including grey due to lack of the application of
robust evidence-based research in IS. By and large, in the medical and
health domain, decision-making is based on evidence-based research. In
this study, we advocate for the increased use of evidence-based research
using systematic literature review (SLR) as reference point in IS
interventions especially in healthcare settings as digital health
interventions increase. We believe the increased use/application of
evidence-based research in the domain of IS will be key to identifying
and scaling up relevant digital health technologies, and one step
forward from “potential” as they are known for. We demonstrate this by
liking IS research to medical research in various aspects. We also
provide a step-by-step guide to conducting systematic review in IS
including strategies on how to harness evidence through strategic use of
the contentious grey literature.