What is scoping review

Scoping reviews do not formally evaluate the quality of evidence and often gather information from a wide range of study designs and methods. By design, the number of studies included in the review process can be sizable. Thus, a large study team is typically needed to screen the large number of studies and other sources for potential inclusion in the scoping review.

Because scoping reviews provide a descriptive account of available information, this often leads to broad, less defined searches that require multiple structured strategies focused on alternative sets of themes.

Hand searching the literature is therefore necessary to ensure the validity of this process. Scoping reviews do not provide a synthesized result or answer to a specific question, but rather provide an overview of the available literature. Even though statements regarding the quality of evidence and formal synthesis are avoided, the scoping review approach is not necessarily easier or faster than the systematic review approach.

Scoping reviews require a substantial amount of time to complete due to the wide coverage of the search implicit in the approach. Like other studies, scoping reviews are at risk for bias from different sources. Critical appraisal of the risk of bias in scoping reviews is not considered mandatory, but some scoping reviews may include a bias assessment.

Even if bias is not formally assessed, that does not mean that bias does not exist. For example, selection bias may occur if the scoping review does not identify all available data on a topic and the resulting descriptive account of available information is flawed.

Fan et al. The authors comment that the stigmatized topic of drug diversion frequently falls outside the peer-reviewed literature and emphasize the importance of including such sources as conferences, news articles, and legal reports. What is a Mapping Review? What is a Meta-Synthesis? What is a Mixed Methods Review? What is an Integrative Review?

What is an Overview of Reviews? What is a Review of Complex Interventions? What is a Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review? What is a Network Meta-Analysis? What is a Living Systematic Review? Limitations of a Scoping Review Is not easier than a systematic review. Is not faster than a systematic review, may take longer. Requires multiple structured searches instead of one.

Increased emphasis for hand searching the literature. May require larger teams because of larger volume of literature. Inconsistency in the conduct of scoping reviews. Scoping Reviews are best designed for: "When a body of literature has not yet been comprehensively reviewed, or exhibits a large, complex, or heterogeneous nature not amenable to a more precise systematic review.

JBI Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. Toward a framework for the design, implementation, and reporting of methodology scoping reviews. Report a problem. Tags: integrative review , living systematic review , meta-analysis , mixed methods review , network meta-analysis , overview of reviews , qualitative review , rapid review , scoping review , Systematic Review , systematic review service , umbrella review.

Key historical papers Using a standard or guideline will help you conduct your scoping review correctly. Video Length: Current best practices for the conduct of a scoping review A presentation by Heather Colquhoun, from the Equator Network and the University of Toronto. Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews ' Scoping reviews - what they are and how you can do them Cochrane training suite of videos on scoping reviews.

Asking the right questions: scoping studies in the commissioning of research on the organisation and delivery of health services Anderson et al. What are scoping studies? Scoping the scope of a Cochrane Review Armstrong et al. A scoping review on the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews Tricco et al. Methodology for JBI scoping reviews Peters et al. The scoping review process Step 1 - Define a clear review topic, objective and sub-questions. Step 2 - Develop a protocol.

Step 3 - Apply PCC framework. Step 4 - Conduct systematic searches including grey literature.