Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is an evidence-based set of items designed to help researchers report a wide array of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The PRISMA statement aims to improve the transparency and quality of reporting in these types of studies, ensuring that readers can understand the methodology and findings comprehensively.

History

The PRISMA statement was developed by a group of scientists and methodologists who recognized the need for a standardized reporting guideline. It was first published in 2009, building upon the earlier Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM) statement, which was developed in 1996. The PRISMA statement has since been updated to reflect advancements in the field and to address emerging challenges in systematic review and meta-analysis reporting.

Components

The PRISMA statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items related to the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and funding. Each item is designed to ensure that critical aspects of the study are reported clearly and comprehensively.

Checklist

The 27-item checklist covers the following sections:

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Funding

Each section contains specific items that researchers should address in their reports. For example, the methods section includes items on the eligibility criteria, information sources, search strategy, and data extraction process.

Flow Diagram

The PRISMA flow diagram visually represents the flow of information through the different phases of a systematic review. It includes the number of records identified, screened, assessed for eligibility, and included in the review, along with reasons for exclusions at each stage.

Importance

The PRISMA statement is widely recognized and endorsed by numerous journals and organizations. It helps ensure that systematic reviews and meta-analyses are reported with a high level of transparency, allowing readers to assess the reliability and validity of the findings. This, in turn, facilitates the synthesis of evidence and supports informed decision-making in healthcare and other fields.

Updates and Extensions

The PRISMA statement has undergone several updates to address new challenges and incorporate feedback from the research community. Extensions of the PRISMA statement have also been developed for specific types of reviews, such as PRISMA-P for protocols, PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews, and PRISMA-IPD for individual participant data meta-analyses.

See Also

• Systematic review
• Meta-analysis
• Evidence-based medicine
• Cochrane Collaboration
• Reporting guidelines