Article

PRISMA-S: an extension to the PRISMA Statement for Reporting Literature Searches in Systematic Reviews

Melissa L. RethlefsenHealth Science Center Libraries, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. [email protected]Shona KirtleyUK EQUATOR Centre, Centre for Statistics in Medicine (CSM), Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UKSiw WaffenschmidtInstitute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, Cologne, GermanyAna Patricia AyalaGerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDavid MoherCentre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, Centre for Practice Changing Research Building, 501 Smyth Road, PO BOX 201B, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, CanadaMatthew J. PageSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaJonathan KoffelUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USAPRISMA-S GroupHeather B. BluntTara BrighamSteven ChangJustin ClarkAislinn ConwayRachel CoubanShelley de KockKelly FarrahPaul FehrmannMargaret FosterSusan A. FowlerJulie GlanvilleElizabeth HarrisLilian HoffeckerJaana IsojärviCentre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, Centre for Practice Changing Research Building, 501 Smyth Road, PO BOX 201B, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, CanadaDavid KaunelisHans KetPaul LevayJennifer A. LyonJessie McGowanMohammed MuradJoey NicholsonVirginia PannabeckerRobin PaynterRachel PinottiAmanda Ross‐WhiteMargaret SampsonTracy ShieldsAdrienne StevensAnthea SuttonElizabeth WeinfurterKath WrightSarah Young

2021en

ABI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Literature searches underlie the foundations of systematic reviews and related review types. Yet, the literature searching component of systematic reviews and related review types is often poorly reported. Guidance for literature search reporting has been diverse, and, in many cases, does not offer enough detail to authors who need more specific information about reporting search methods and information sources in a clear, reproducible way. This document presents the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension) checklist, and explanation and elaboration. METHODS: The checklist was developed using a 3-stage Delphi survey process, followed by a consensus conference and public review process. RESULTS: The final checklist includes 16 reporting items, each of which is detailed with exemplar reporting and rationale. CONCLUSIONS: The intent of PRISMA-S is to complement the PRISMA Statement and its extensions by providing a checklist that could be used by interdisciplinary authors, editors, and peer reviewers to verify that each component of a search is completely reported and therefore reproducible.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01542-z

Citations and references

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