Conducting high quality scoping reviews-challenges and solutions

Hanan Khalil; Micah Dj Peters; Andrea C Tricco; Danielle Pollock; Lyndsay Alexander; Patricia McInerney; Christina M Godfrey; Zachary Munn

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.009

Conducting high quality scoping reviews-challenges and solutions

J Clin Epidemiol. 2021 Feb:130:156-160. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.009. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Authors

Hanan Khalil¹, Micah Dj Peters², Andrea C Tricco³, Danielle Pollock⁴, Lyndsay Alexander⁵, Patricia McInerney⁶, Christina M Godfrey⁷, Zachary Munn⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Queensland Centre of Evidence-Based Nursing and Midwifery, Joanna Briggs Institute Centres of Excellence, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: h.khalil@latrobe.edu.au.
² Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia; School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Centre for Evidence-based Practice South Australia (CEPSA), Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Adelaide, Australia.
³ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Epidemiology Division, Institute of Health Management, Policy, and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Queen's Collaboration for Health Care Quality, Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
⁴ JBI, Faculty of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
⁵ School of Health Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK; Scottish Centre for Evidence-Based Multi-professional Practice, Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Aberdeen, UK.
⁶ Wits-JBI Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
⁷ Queen's Collaboration for Health Care Quality, JBI Centre of Excellence, School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 33122034
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.009

Abstract

Objectives: Scoping reviews are being increasingly used by researchers. The objective of this article was to outline some challenges and potential solutions to improve the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews.

Study design and setting: The JBI scoping review methodology group consists of 9 experts in the field of scoping reviews. This article summarizes the key issues facing reviewers who conduct scoping reviews and those who use the results from scoping reviews and may engage in consultations during their development.

Results: Several key issues have been identified for reviewers as challenges in conducting scoping reviews. Challenges may be faced throughout the conduct of the review, from developing the a priori protocol to finalizing the review report for publication and developing implications or recommendations for research, policy, and practice from the results of the review. Challenges to publishing scoping reviews may stem from a lack of understanding of scoping reviews by journal editors, authors, and peer reviewers to extending the conclusion drawn from these reviews to generate recommendations for practice and policy.

Conclusion: By identifying and overcoming challenges to the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews, reviewers may better ensure that scoping reviews are effective in meeting the objectives of scoping reviews.

Keywords: Methodology; Quality; Reporting; Scoping reviews.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Data Accuracy*
Guidelines as Topic*
Humans
Research Design / standards*
Research Design / statistics & numerical data
Systematic Reviews as Topic / standards*