PRISMA-ScR Checklist Explained

PRISMA-ScR is a reporting guideline for scoping reviews, published in 2018, with 20 essential reporting items and 2 optional items organised by manuscript section. It helps authors report a scoping review completely, and helps readers judge what was done. Download the official checklist from the PRISMA website and cite the original paper; this page summarises, without reproducing, its content.

What the checklist covers

• Title and abstract: identify the report as a scoping review; give a structured summary.
• Introduction: rationale and objectives, including the question's concept, population and context.
• Methods: protocol and registration; eligibility criteria; information sources; search strategy; selection of sources of evidence; data charting process and data items; critical appraisal (optional); synthesis of results.
• Results: selection of sources, characteristics, results of individual sources, synthesis.
• Discussion: summary of evidence, limitations, conclusions.
• Funding.

How it differs from PRISMA 2020

PRISMA 2020 is for systematic reviews and expects structured risk-of-bias assessment and synthesis of effects. PRISMA-ScR is designed for reviews that map evidence and often do not appraise quality or pool results.

How to use it

1. Read the checklist and its explanation paper before writing the protocol.
2. Write the protocol with each item in mind.
3. Complete the checklist as you write, citing the page number for each item.
4. Submit the completed checklist with the manuscript if required.

Illustrative example

Invented for teaching. While drafting methods, a team realises it has not stated which sources of grey literature were searched. Using the checklist item on information sources, they add the list of websites and the dates.

Common pitfalls

• Ticking items without providing the information.
• Using PRISMA 2020 wording for a scoping review and implying a systematic review.

Key takeaways

• PRISMA-ScR fits scoping reviews.
• Use the official version and cite it.

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.