Article type
Abstract
Background: Although limiting study inclusion on the basis of language of publication is common practice in systematic reviews, it opens the review up to language bias, which limits the review’s usefulness to make decisions about patient care. JBI is a world leader in evidence synthesis; however, its stance on including languages other than English (LOTE) in systematic reviews lacks clarity.
Objectives: To update JBI methodological guidance through development of a set of minimum standards for the inclusion of LOTE in systematic reviews following JBI methodology and identify potential ways to accommodate these standards that are feasible to authors and the organization
Methods: Following the acceptance of a discussion paper submitted to the JBI Scientific Committee to investigate approaches to handling LOTE in systematic reviews in 2021, an international working group was established consisting of members of the JBI collaboration. A series of meeting were held and guidance was drafted.
Results: Because handling LOTE in systematic reviews cuts across all stages of the systematic review process, a series of subgroups within the working group were formed. They included Capacity and Collaboration; Context; Methodological Approaches; Searching; and Appraisal, Extraction and Synthesis. Each group was responsible for reviewing the literature related to their foci, developing draft standards, and presenting them to the working group for discussion and debate.
Conclusions: The nuanced complexities around how to handle LOTE in systematic reviews create challenges for authors as well as those involved in developing methodological guidance. Developing standards relies on having a range of expertise available, as all phases of the review process are impacted. Standards must be feasible and fluid to accommodate topic choice, type of evidence, author diversity and capacity, and context. Having access to a network of reviewers to collaborate with is an advantage. This is of relevance to patients because it contributes to methods that result in more robust evidence synthesis.
Objectives: To update JBI methodological guidance through development of a set of minimum standards for the inclusion of LOTE in systematic reviews following JBI methodology and identify potential ways to accommodate these standards that are feasible to authors and the organization
Methods: Following the acceptance of a discussion paper submitted to the JBI Scientific Committee to investigate approaches to handling LOTE in systematic reviews in 2021, an international working group was established consisting of members of the JBI collaboration. A series of meeting were held and guidance was drafted.
Results: Because handling LOTE in systematic reviews cuts across all stages of the systematic review process, a series of subgroups within the working group were formed. They included Capacity and Collaboration; Context; Methodological Approaches; Searching; and Appraisal, Extraction and Synthesis. Each group was responsible for reviewing the literature related to their foci, developing draft standards, and presenting them to the working group for discussion and debate.
Conclusions: The nuanced complexities around how to handle LOTE in systematic reviews create challenges for authors as well as those involved in developing methodological guidance. Developing standards relies on having a range of expertise available, as all phases of the review process are impacted. Standards must be feasible and fluid to accommodate topic choice, type of evidence, author diversity and capacity, and context. Having access to a network of reviewers to collaborate with is an advantage. This is of relevance to patients because it contributes to methods that result in more robust evidence synthesis.