PreprintCited by 916Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsClinical practice guidelines implementationDelphi Technique in Research

PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration: updated guidance and exemplars for reporting systematic reviews

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Page, Matthew James, Moher, David, Bossuyt, Patrick, Boutron, Isabelle, Hoffmann, Tammy, mulrow, cindy, Shamseer, Larissa, Tetzlaff, Jennifer +18 more·2020

Abstract

The methods and results of systematic reviews should be reported in sufficient detail to allow users to assess the trustworthiness and applicability of the review findings. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was developed to facilitate transparent and complete reporting of systematic reviews and has been updated (to PRISMA 2020) to reflect recent advances in systematic review methodology and terminology. Here, we present the explanation and elaboration paper for PRISMA 2020, where we explain why reporting of each item is recommended, present bullet points that detail the reporting recommendations, and present exemplars from published reviews. We hope that changes to the content and structure of PRISMA 2020 will facilitate uptake of the guideline and lead to more transparent, complete and accurate reporting of systematic reviews.

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Authors
Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T., mulrow, C., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J., Akl, E., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinness, L. A., Stewart, L., Thomas, J., Tricco, A., Welch, V. A., Whiting, P., & McKenzie, J.
Affiliations
  • Queen's University (CA)
  • Monash University (AU)
  • University of Ottawa (CA)
  • Inserm (FR)
  • Bond University (AU)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
  • McMaster University (CA)
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • St. Michael's Hospital (CA)
Corresponding author
Page, Matthew James
Published
2020-09-14
OpenAlex
W4241980133
Cited by
916
References
157
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 276 · 2023: 265 · 2022: 194 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 5
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • MetArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • MetArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Clinical practice guidelines implementation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Delphi Technique in Research
Keywords
PRISMA 2020, systematic review reporting, reporting guidelines, transparency, reporting items, exemplars, meta-analysis

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