Systematic reviews, scoping reviews and other evidence syntheses

• Research protocols explicitly describe the methods for the synthesis review
  • Are based on the research question for the review
  • Must be in place before the project gets underway
• Research protocols outline:
  • rationale for the review
  • review objectives
  • methods to be used in locating, selecting and critically appraising identified studies, and
  • methods for collecting, analysing and reporting data from included studies

Why do you need a research protocol?

Research protocols promote research integrity, accountability and transparency

• Protocols minimize bias by guarding against arbitrary decision-making as the review project proceeds
• Enable readers of published reviews to:
  • appraise review methods
  • detect variations from stated review methods
  • assess for selective reporting

Preparing a research protocol

Key elements to be included in a research protocol:

• Protocol registration site (e.g. Prospero, OSF) and number
• Rationale & objectives for the review
• Inclusion & exclusion criteria: what studies are eligible for your review?
  • Consider study designs, populations, years of publication, publication status, language, etc.
• Information sources to be searched
• Draft of literature searching strategy
• Strategy for managing records and data
• Screening & selection process
• Data extraction methods
• Data synthesis methods
• Reporting guidelines

Tools for preparing a research protocol

Systematic review protocols

• A practical guide to Protocol Development for Systematic Reviews - from Covidence
• Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 6.4 (Chapter 1.5)
• Institute of Medicine - Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews (Standard 2.6)
• Campbell Systematic Reviews: Policies & Guidelines Version 1.8 (Section 5)
• Guidance for reporting a systematic review protocol: PRISMA for Systematic Review Protocols (PRISMA-P) 

Registering a protocol

• It is good practice to register the review protocol before your project gets underway:
  • provides an immutable record of your project
  • increases transparency & rigour of research through improved planning

Protocol registries:

• PROSPERO -- international register of systematic review protocols in health sciences
• OSF Registries -- international, interdisciplinary registry for all forms of research including systematic reviews
• Campbell Collaboration -- publishes systematic review protocols with a social, economic, crime and education focus. 
• SYREAF  -- repository for food, food production, food safety, animal health and animal welfare protocols
• Figshare -- repository of research outputs, including protocols

Reference:  Systematic Reviews in Health by Murray Turner at University of Canberra

Reference: Systematic Reviews by Lydia Thorne at University of Ontario Institute of Technology