Scoping Review Expand All + Collapse All - Course Number: HE450 Subject: Health Sciences What is a scoping review? A scoping review is a type of evidence synthesis that uses systematic and transparent methods to identify and retrieve all the relevant research on a specific topic. Scoping reviews do not aim to provide the answer to a particular question, but instead they aim to provide an overview or map of the evidence. According to Munn, et al (2018, p.2) there are several reasons why a scoping review might be conducted: To identify the types of available evidence in a given field, To clarify key concepts/ definitions in the literature, To examine how research is conducted on a certain topic or field, To identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept, As a precursor to a systematic review, To identify and analyse knowledge gaps. General Guidelines Cannot be completed by a single person: Multiple people are needed to reduce bias during screening and data extraction Require a substantial time commitment: Scoping reviews take an average of 9-12 months. Must use transparent and reproducible methods: Use established methodologies, Make your full search strategy for at least one database available. Key Stages in a scoping review Explore the topic with some preliminary searches, and check that a major review on the topic doesn’t already exist, Develop clear research questions, Write a protocol that outlines inclusion/exclusion criteria for screening and a draft data extraction table, Build a systematic search strategy in your main database, test and refine it, then translate it for your other databases, Train people who will be screening to ensure consistency, Screen title & abstract, Obtain full text articles and add to Covidence, Screen full text, Complete data extraction & analysis, Write up and submit for publication. Key Resources Methodology Current methodology manual JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis (2024) - Chapter 10 Scoping Reviews Historical methods articles Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. Levac, D., Colquhoun, H. & O'Brien, K.K. (2010). Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implementation Science 5(69). Peters, M., Godfrey, C., Khalil, H., McInerney, P., Parker, D. & Soares, C. (2015). Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare 13(3), 141-146. Reporting Guidelines PRISMA-ScR for reporting scoping reviews PRISMA-S for reporting literature searches in systematic reviewsEvidence Synthesis tools Citation management: Zotero or Mendeley Database selection: Laurier Library Subject Guides Screening: Covidence Training & Education Covidence Academy Short training videosUniversity of Toronto Gerstein Science Information Centre Guides Knowledge Syntheses: Systematic & Scoping Reviews, and other review types Searching the Literature: A Guide to Comprehensive Searching in the Health Sciences Author Guidelines Evidence synthesis papers often have multiple authors. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides helpful guidelines on defining the role of authors and contributors. One key point is that all authors must have “final approval of the version to be published”. Do not submit a work for publication without first sharing the final version of the paper and checking that all the people listed as authors wish to be included.