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PRISMA is becoming better known--for better or worse. I actually just helped a student last week who was doing a literature review as background for a research study, and his PI sent him this email: "Dr. X suggested that we perform a search protocol per "PRISMA". I must admit that I haven't done as much research as him and don't know about this. He suggested that we google it and that it would help us to come up with a good search protocol for articles. Can you look into PRISMA and, based on this, see how we can refine our search protocol for articles?" What I told him: As we discussed, PRISMA is a protocol for systematic reviews—not for a background lit review that's part of another research project. It doesn't tell you how to do the search, it just tells you how to track your results and write up the paper. I do think the PRISMA flow chart is helpful for many lit searches, even if you wouldn't use all the boxes, but the checklist wouldn't be particularly applicable if you're not doing s systematic review. On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 1:35 PM, Susan Fowler <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I don't think there is anything wrong with referencing that PRISMA guided > methods used in conducting a systematic review. I often tell researchers to > be sure and read the PRISMA guidelines before embarking on a > systematic review lest they discover too late that they don't have > something they need for proper reporting. While referring to using PRISMA > in methods does not equal poor methods, stating that PRISMA guidelines have > been followed is different from actually following the guidelines. Does > that concern me? Yes, just as much as the bad science in every kind of > study concerns me. We do have very good and thorough guidelines for > systematic reviews from the IOM ( > http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2011/Finding-What-Works-in-Health-Care-Standards-for-Systematic-Reviews/Standards.aspx) > however, PRISMA are used more often because they are better known and > because they have an easy to follow checklist. > > > -- > Susan Fowler, MLIS > Medical Librarian > Coordinator, Systematic Review Services > > Evidence at Becker: > http://beckerguides.wustl.edu/ebm > > Systematic Reviews Guide: > http://beckerguides.wustl.edu/SystematicReviews > > Becker Medical Library, Washington University in St. Louis > 314-362-8092 > [log in to unmask] > > On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 8:19 AM, Judy Wright <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> Dear all, >> >> >> >> Can PRISMA guidelines be quoted as a tool to guide the methods of a >> systematic review? I’m increasingly seeing research proposals, protocols >> and systematic review manuscripts that claim to use PRISMA for their >> systematic review methods. >> >> >> >> e.g. “The systematic review will be carried out in accordance with PRISMA >> guidelines” or.. “We undertook a systematic review in accordance with the >> PRISMA guidelines” >> >> >> >> Is this OK and are others seeing these statements? I personally feel it >> would be better to refer to whatever methods guidance was used for >> undertaking the review e.g. CRDs Handbook, Cochrane Handbook…. I would only >> mention PRISMA in a protocol or proposal to show how we plan to report the >> review. Is anyone else seeing similar references to PRISMA being used for >> the SR methods and if so do you think it’s fine as a guide to methods, are >> you concerned that the use of PRISMA isn’t being reported correctly? Would >> it worry you if the methods used in a systematic review were based on the >> PRISMA checklist & statement? >> >> >> >> Quick reminder on what PRISMA is from its website: >> >> PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in >> systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA focuses on the reporting of >> reviews evaluating randomized trials, but can also be used as a basis for >> reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly >> evaluations of interventions. http://www.prisma-statement.org >> >> >> >> Thanks for your help, >> >> >> >> Judy >> >> Judy Wright >> Senior Information Specialist to LIHS >> <http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/639/information_specialists> and the NIHR >> Research Design Service Yorkshire & the Humber >> <http://www.rds-yh.nihr.ac.uk/> >> Leeds Institute of Health Sciences >> University of Leeds >> Charles Thackrah Building >> Leeds LS2 9LJ >> >> +44 (0) 113 3430876 >> >> Twitter: @jmwleeds @AUHE_Leeds ResearchGate >> <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Judy_Wright2> >> >> https://www.facebook.com/HealthEconomicsLeeds >> > > > > > > -- Erika Sevetson, MS Head of Health and Science Information Services/Health Sciences Librarian Brown University Libraries Box G-M155 Providence, RI 02912 401-863-5150 libguides.brown.edu/sevetson <http://libguides.brown.edu/prf.php?account_id=54295>