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PRISMA Diagrams

This guide is an introduction to and overview of PRISMA diagrams.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Familiarize yourself with the PRISMA statement and checklist items. This will ensure that you understand what information needs to be included in your review and help you to structure your process.
  2. Conduct your systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. This includes searching for and selecting studies, extracting data, and assessing the quality of the studies.
  3. Use the PRISMA flow diagram to outline the process you followed to select the studies for inclusion in your review. This diagram should include the number of studies identified, the number of studies screened, and the number of studies included in your review.
  4. Complete the PRISMA checklist to ensure that all necessary information is included in your review. This checklist includes 27 items that cover the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and funding sections of your systematic review.
  5. Include the completed PRISMA flow diagram and checklist in your systematic review as part of your Methods section. This will help to ensure that your review is transparent and can be replicated by others.

Tips for Completing a PRISMA Diagram

Completing a PRISMA diagram can be time-consuming, but it's an important step in ensuring the transparency and quality of your systematic review. Here are some tips to help you complete your PRISMA diagram efficiently:

  • Work on the PRISMA diagram as you go through the systematic review process. This will help you to keep track of the studies you have identified, screened, and included in your review.
  • Use a tool like Excel or Google Sheets to create your PRISMA diagram. This will make it easier to update as you progress through your review.
  • Be as detailed as possible in your PRISMA diagram. This will help readers to understand your systematic review process and ensure that your review can be replicated.
  • Consult the PRISMA statement and checklist items as you complete your PRISMA diagram to ensure that you are including all necessary information.