Systematic Review Manuscript Template

This Word scaffold organises a systematic review manuscript so each section prompts the information PRISMA 2020 asks authors to report.

What is inside

• Structured abstract and introduction (rationale, objectives)
• Methods prompts: eligibility, sources, search, selection, extraction, bias, synthesis, certainty, registration
• Results prompts: study selection, characteristics, bias, syntheses, reporting biases
• Discussion and other information

How to use it

1. Register your protocol before screening (for example in PROSPERO).
2. Draft the methods from your protocol, noting any deviations.
3. Use the official PRISMA 2020 checklist and flow diagram alongside this file.
4. Put the full search strategy in a supplement.

Example (illustrative)

Under Selection process you might write: Two reviewers screened titles independently; disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third reviewer. (Illustrative wording.)

Limitations and cautions

The file is a writing scaffold only. It contains no PRISMA text, so use the official checklist and flow diagram for formal reporting, and a protocol registered in advance remains the best way to protect against selective reporting. The file is free to use and edit, and the footer credits MedResearch Ninja.

MRN templates are original, editable starting points. Reporting standards (PRISMA, CARE, ICMJE and others) belong to their authors: use the official versions linked above for formal submissions.