Thread by @Daniellep89

How to choose between a #systematic review or a #scoping review. This is a common question with our network, so for #WorldEBHCday we wanted to break it down in a #tweetorial. #EvidencetoImpact @WorldEBHCDay (1/13)

There are three questions you can ask yourself to assess which review is right for you (here is also a fun way to do this: …srightforyou.knowledgetranslation.net) (2/13)

Question 1: Do you want to use the results of your review to answer a clinically meaningful question? If yes, a #systematic review is likely the right approach. (3/13)

Question 2: Do you want your results to provide evidence to inform practices and/or #guideline development? If yes, a #systematic review is likely the right approach. (4/13)

Question 3: Is your review question addressing the feasibility, appropriateness, meaningfulness or effectiveness of a certain treatment or practice? If yes, a #systematic review is likely the right approach. (5/13)

So in essence, if you want your evidence to inform practice. If the authors have a question addressing the feasibility, appropriateness, meaningfulness or effectiveness of a certain treatment or practice, then a #systematic review is likely the most valid approach. (6/13)

Why? Three broad reasons: 1) The intention of the #scoping review is to ‘map’ the available evidence, so lends itself to a broad research question, rather than a #systematic review which tends to have a narrow research question. (7/ 13)

2) In #scoping reviews, we do not advocate for the critical appraisal of the included literature. Therefore, we are unable to assess bias of the results. We do not want clinical change to be based off poor evidence. (8/13)

3) We do not synthesise the included evidence in scoping reviews through meta-analysis or meta-synthesis, and therefore cannot make statements or recommendations about the feasibility, appropriateness, meaningfulness or effectiveness of a particular issue or intervention. (9/13)

If authors are more interested in the identification of certain characteristics/concepts in papers or studies, and in the mapping, reporting or discussion of these characteristics/concepts. In these cases, a #scoping review is the better choice. (10/13)

For more resources look at this paper led by @ZacMunn which discusses the differences and how to make the choice between a #systematic or #scoping review: doi.org/10.1186/s12874… (11/13)

Our recently released #JBIEBHC #scoping review guidance: doi.org/10.11124/JBIES…. JBI recently had a #JBILive #webinar presented by @ATricco on the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews, which you can find here: (12/13)

Join our network for more information about scoping reviews: scopingreviews.jbi.global (13/13)