Navigating data in large scoping reviews
Preparation is key
An editorial offers some helpful tips for those preparing to conduct a large scoping review - as defined by Alexander et al. as including approximately 100 or more sources of evidence- and discusses the challenges involved in wading through enormous amounts of data to separate the relevant from the irrelevant.
The author draws on their own experience as a coauthor of a scoping review, featured in this issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis, Adverse Drug Events in Cost-Effectiveness Models of Pharmacological Interventions for Diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Diabetic Macular Edema. This review analysed 242 studies to assess current economic evaluation practices regarding the inclusion of adverse events.
Author, Mari Pesonen, suggests a good way to approach a scoping review is to “first create a publicly available protocol, with a pilot literature search and draft data extraction tool.” While admitting this does create a lot of work initially, Mari explains that it ensures reviewers are defining clear research questions and developing an appropriate search strategy. “Maintaining a broad scope while keeping a clear focus is an important balance to strive for.”
Read more in editorial in issue 11 of JBI Evidence Synthesis.
Pesonen, Mari, JBI Evidence Synthesis 22(11):p 2192-2193, November 2024. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-24-00467