Background
A systematic review is designed to answer a focused health sciences related question in a systematic, reproducible matter. To achieve this goal, researchers should create a Protocol. A protocol is a document designed to guide researchers through the complete systematic review process. Typically these documents serve as a guide for the research team throughout the life of the review. A publicly available protocol also registers a claim on your idea and helps eliminate duplicative research. Additionally, journals may require review protocols to be registered prior to manuscript submission. Check your target journal's Author Instructions page.
- Table comparing protocol registration sites for different kinds of reviewsFrom the Cochrane Official Blog, 2023
Systematic Review Protocols
For systematic reviews, creating a protocol is recommended by The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews (section 24a).
Protocol examples:
- Bose G, Graveline J, Yogendrakumar V, Fergusson D, Dowlatshahi D. Direct oral anticoagulants in treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis: a systematic review protocol. Syst Rev. 2019 Apr 18;8(1):99.
- Parent S, Salters K, Awendila L, Ti L. Hepatitis C and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. 2018 Dec 22;8(12):e024288.
- Best Practice in Systematic Reviews: The Importance of Protocols and Registration.PLoS Medicine Editors. PLoS Med 2011 8(2): e1001009.
- Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis PROTOCOLS (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement"PRISMA-P consists of a 17-item checklist intended to facilitate the preparation and reporting of a robust protocol for the systematic review."
Scoping Review Protocols
- Best practice guidance and reporting items for the development of scoping review protocols.Peters, M., Godfrey, C., McInerney, P., Khalil, H., Larsen, P., Marnie, C., Pollock, D., Tricco, A. C., & Munn, Z. (2022). JBI evidence synthesis, 10.11124/JBIES-21-00242. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-21-00242
- How to write a scoping review protocol: Guidance and templateFor OSF registrations. From the National Institutes of Health Library, ORS Division of Library Services
Protocol examples:
- Cromeens MG, Carey ET, Robinson WR, Knafl K, Thoyre S. Timing, delays and pathways to diagnosis of endometriosis: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 24;11(6):e049390.
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Hayashi Neto, D., Carvalho, S., Ribeiro, P., Lavoie, K. L., Bacon, S. L., & Cornélio, M. E. (2021). Methods to assess ambivalence towards food and diet: a scoping review protocol. JBI evidence synthesis, 10.11124/JBIES-21-00058. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-21-00058
Registration Sites
Systematic Reviews
- PROSPERO"PROSPERO is an international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care, welfare, public health, education, crime, justice, and international development, where there is a health related outcome."
Scoping
- Open Science Framework RegistryA free and open-source cloud-based research management platform. Researchers can store files and data, register preprints, and create protocols for scoping reviews.
Animal Studies
- Systematic Reviews for Animals & Food (SYREAF)Repository for food, food production, food safety, animal health and animal welfare protocols.
Misc.
- Campbell Collaboration Proposal SubmissionSite for proposals for new reviews, evidence and gap maps (EGMs), and methods research papers for publication in Campbell Systematic Reviews. Typically covers ageing, business and management, children and young persons wellbeing, climate solutions, crime and justice, disability, education, international development, knowledge translation and implementation, methods and social welfare.
- Research SquareAn open repository of community-contributed protocols sponsored by Nature Portfolio.