Scoping Reviews Legacy Guide: Write the Review

Describe your manuscript and state whether it is a scoping review, systematic review, or meta-analysis.

PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 1- Title​

Provide a structured summary that includes (as applicable): background, objectives, eligibility criteria, sources of evidence, charting methods, results, and conclusions that relate to the review questions and objectives.

PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 2- Structured Summary​

• Rationale: Describe the rationale for the review in the context of what is already known. Explain why the review questions/objectives lend themselves to a scoping review approach.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 3- Rationale​

• Objectives: Provide an explicit statement of the questions and objectives being addressed with reference to their key elements (e.g., population or participants, concepts, and context) or other relevant key elements used to conceptualize the review questions and/or objectives.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 4- Objectives​

Include details regarding the protocol, eligibility criteria, databases searched, full search strategy of at least one database (often reported in appendix), and the study selection process. Describe how data were extracted and analyzed. If a librarian is part of your research team, that person may be best suited to write this section. Report:

• Protocol and registration: Indicate whether a review protocol exists; state if and where it can be accessed (e.g., a Web address); and if available, provide registration information, including the registration number.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 5- Protocol and registration​

• Eligibility criteria: Specify characteristics of the sources of evidence used as eligibility criteria (e.g., years considered, language, and publication status), and provide a rationale.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 6- Eligibility criteria​

• Information sources: Describe all information sources in the search (e.g., databases with dates of coverage and contact with authors to identify additional sources), as well as the date the most recent search was executed.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 7- Information sources​

• Search: Present the full electronic search strategy for at least 1 database, including any limits used, such that it could be repeated.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 8- Search​

• Selection of sources of evidence: State the process for selecting sources of evidence (i.e., screening and eligibility) included in the scoping review.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 9- Selection of sources of evidence​

• Data charting process:Describe the methods of charting data from the included sources of evidence (e.g., calibrated forms or forms that have been tested by the team before their use, and whether data charting was done independently or in duplicate) and any processes for obtaining and confirming data from investigators.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 10- Data charting process​

• Data items: List and define all variables for which data were sought and any assumptions and simplifications made.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 11- Data items​

• Critical appraisal of individual sources of evidence: If done, provide a rationale for conducting a critical appraisal of included sources of evidence; describe the methods used and how this information was used in any data synthesis (if appropriate).

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 12- Critical appraisal of individual sources of evidence​

• Synthesis of results: Describe the methods of handling and summarizing the data that were charted.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 13- Synthesis of results​

Include the numbers of articles screened at each stage using a PRISMA diagram. Include information about included study characteristics, risk of bias (quality assessment) within studies, and results across studies. Report:

• Selection of sources of evidence: Give numbers of sources of evidence screened, assessed for eligibility, and included in the review, with reasons for exclusions at each stage, ideally using a flow diagram.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 14- Selection of sources of evidence​

• Characteristics of sources of evidence: For each source of evidence, present characteristics for which data were charted and provide the citations.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 15- Characteristics of sources of evidence​

• Critical appraisal within sources of evidence: If done, present data on critical appraisal of included sources of evidence (see item 12).

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 16- Critical appraisal within sources of evidence​

• Results of individual sources of evidence: For each included source of evidence, present the relevant data that were charted that relate to the review questions and objectives.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 17- Results of individual sources of evidence​

• Synthesis of results: Summarize and/or present the charting results as they relate to the review questions and objectives.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 18- Synthesis of results​

Summarize main findings, including the strength of evidence and limitations of the review. Provide a general interpretation of the results and implications for future research. Report:

• Summary of evidence: Summarize the main results (including an overview of concepts, themes, and types of evidence available), link to the review questions and objectives, and consider the relevance to key groups.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 19- Summary of Evidence​

• Limitations: Discuss the limitations of the scoping review process.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 20- Limitations​

• Conclusions: Provide a general interpretation of the results with respect to the review questions and objectives, as well as potential implications and/or next steps.

  PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 21- Conclusions​

Describe any sources of funding for the systematic review.

Report sources of funding for the included sources of evidence, as well as sources of funding for the scoping review. Describe the role of the funders of the scoping review and any potential conflicts of interest.

PRISMA Tip Sheet: Item 22- Funding​

Search Strategy Documentation Template​