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Systematic Review & Evidence Synthesis Information Guide (UAHSL-Tucson)

Conducting a Scoping Review

Scoping reviews differ in large part from systematic reviews by not requiring the critical appraisal of included studies.

Peters, M. D., Marnie, C., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., McInerney, P., Godfrey, C. M. & Khalil, H. (2021). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Implementation, 19(1), 3–10. doi: 10.1097/XEB.0000000000000277.

Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implement Sci. 2010;5(1):69. doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69.

Peters MDJ, Godfrey C, McInerney P, Munn Z, Tricco AC, Khalil, H. Chapter 11: Scoping Reviews (2020 version). In: Aromataris E, Munn Z (Editors). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, JBI, 2020. 

Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2005;8(1):19–32. doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616. (landmark article)

Daudt, H. M., van Mossel, C., & Scott, S. J. (2013). Enhancing the scoping study methodology: A large, inter-professional team’s experience with Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 13(1), 48. doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-48  


Cochrane Training (a series of short videos): Scoping reviews: what they are and how you can do them

Preparing a Scoping Review Protocol

Protocol Guidance:

Protocol Reporting:

Protocol Registration:

Reporting a Scoping Review

Guidance about what to include in the write up of your scoping review

PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist, tip sheets and video overview

Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, O’Brien KK, Colquhoun H, Levac D, et al. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169(7):467–73.