Why register a systemic review protocol?
Answer
•Creating and registering a protocol is a way to tell the world you intend to do a systematic review on a particular topic
•Researchers can "stake a claim” on the review question
•Many publishers require protocol registration
•Before starting a systematic review, protocols can be searched to determine if a protocol on the same research question has already been registered
Systematic Review Protocols:
- a good systematic review can start with a protocol - it can serve as a road map for your review
- a protocol specifies the objectives, methods, and outcomes of the primary interest of the systematic review
- a protocol promotes transparency of methods
- allows your peers to review how you will extract information to quantitatively summarize your outcome data
About Systematic Review Protocol Registries
- Various protocol registries exist
- Anyone can register their protocol
- Registering your protocol is helpful to establish that your group is doing this review
- Registering increases potential communication with interested researchers
- Registering may reduce the risk of multiple reviews addressing the same question
- Registering may provide greater transparency when updating a systematic review
Source: National Institutes of Health Library, NIH Library: https://www.nihlibrary.nih.gov/services/systematic-review-service/systematic-review-protocols-and-protocol-registries