JBI shines a light on scoping reviews
Introducing the JBI Scoping Review Network
JBI announced the launch of the Scoping Review Network, a collaboration of international methodologists and reviewers, and website dedicated to providing resources and training opportunities to help reviewers conduct and report high-quality scoping reviews. Among the training opportunities is a new online scoping review course developed by JBI and delivered by the University of Adelaide. The announcement was made during a JBI LIVE! Webinar on the latest guidance for scoping reviews, presented by scoping review expert, Assoc Professor Andrea Tricco.
Scoping reviews are an increasingly popular type of knowledge synthesis, however empirical research has demonstrated that there is room for improvement in the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews. The Scoping Review Network website responds to the increasing awareness and use of scoping reviews, and the need for clear guidance on how to choose between different evidence synthesis approaches, and when a scoping review is the most appropriate type of review to conduct.
“The purpose of the Scoping Review Network is to foster collaboration; to share resources and exchange knowledge; and to highlight new publications and education opportunities”, said Dr Danielle Pollock, JBI Research Fellow. “It’s about taking the guess work out of scoping reviews”, she added.
The new website encourages researchers to connect and engage with other reviewers and experts in the field and provides easy access to JBI’s updated scoping review methodology. The scoping review guidance was revised and updated by a team of experts spanning the globe to ensure alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) Statement, and its extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). PRISMA-ScR was developed by experts in scoping reviews and evidence synthesis to be consistent with JBI scoping review methodology, which was chosen because it was the most transparent and comprehensive guide for conducting scoping reviews.
“It seems like almost everyone wants to do a scoping review at the moment, which is fantastic, but it is of the utmost importance they are doing these reviews for the right reasons. The resources accessed via the Scoping Review Network such as the updated Scoping Reviews Chapter in the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Scoping Reviews Template, provide clear guidance for potential reviewers”, said Assoc Prof Zachary Munn, JBI Convenor for the Scoping Review Methodology Group.
The Scoping Review Network website is at jbi.global/scoping-review-network. The website will host a recording of the JBI LIVE! Webinar on how to conduct and report a scoping review and extends an invitation to ‘get involved’ in the international Scoping Review Network. In addition to enabling access to resources, software (JBI SUMARI) and publications, visitors to the website will also be able to register for the new online scoping review course offered by the University of Adelaide, and the upcoming JBI scoping review workshops delivered via remote attendance.
“I am incredibly excited to release The Scoping Review Network along with my colleagues on the JBI Scoping Review Methodology Group. It is our hope that the updated scoping review guide will provide clarity to several aspects of scoping review conduct and can be used by authors, journal editors, and other evidence synthesis stakeholders around the world, and that the website will prove to be a valuable resource to assist reviewers to produce high-quality scoping reviews”, said Assoc Prof Tricco, Chair of the Scoping Reviews Methodological Group.
Resources
Scoping Reviews Chapter, JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis
JBI Scoping Review Online Course
Recording of JBI LIVE! webinar