Systematic Reviews

Elevating the quality of Systematic Reviews and Evidence Reviews produced at the University of Utah

What are scoping reviews?

Scoping reviews are a type of evidence synthesis that aims to systematically identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept, or issue, often irrespective of source (ie, primary research, reviews, non-empirical evidence) within or across particular contexts. Scoping reviews can clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature and identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept, including those related to methodological research.  - from Munn, et al. What are scoping reviews? Providing a formal definition of scoping reviews as a type of evidence synthesis. JBI Evid Synth. Apr 1 2022;20(4):950-952. doi:10.11124/JBIES-21-00483

Manual for conducting scoping reviews:

Chapter 10: Scoping Reviews (2020 version).

Citation:  Peters MDJ, Godfrey C, McInerney P, Munn Z, Tricco AC, Khalil, H. Scoping Reviews (2020). Aromataris E, Lockwood C, Porritt K, Pilla B, Jordan Z, editors. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI; 2024. Available from: https://synthesismanual.jbi.global.  https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-24-09

Articles on methods:

  1. Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. Munn Z, Peters MDJ, Stern C, Tufanaru C, McArthur A, Aromataris E. BMC Med Res Methodol. Nov 19 2018;18(1):143. doi:10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x   | PubMed
  2. What's the difference between a systematic review and a scoping review? Covidence Blog, 2024.
  3. Best practice guidance and reporting items for the development of scoping review protocols. Peters MDJ, Godfrey C, McInerney P, et al. JBI Evid Synth. Apr 1 2022;20(4):953-968. doi:10.11124/JBIES-21-00242 | PubMed
  4. Undertaking a scoping review: A practical guide for nursing and midwifery students, clinicians, researchers, and academics. Pollock D, Davies EL, Peters MDJ, et al. J Adv Nurs. Apr 2021;77(4):2102-2113. doi:10.1111/jan.14743 | PubMed
  5. The role of scoping reviews in reducing research waste. Khalil H, Peters MDJ, McInerney PA, et al. J Clin Epidemiol. Dec 2022;152:30-35. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.09.012 | PubMed

Videos from JBI:

 Steps for scoping reviews. JBI Methodology: 2021

How to conduct and report your scoping review: latest guidance with Andrea Tricco. JBI Live Webinar. 2020. Specifically, parts 7:55-31:31

How to extract, analyse and present data in scoping reviews with Dr. Danielle Pollock. JBI Live Webinar. 2022.