Article type
Abstract
"Background: While methodological standards, reporting guidelines, and quality assessment checklists for systematic reviews exist, the persistent publication of systematic reviews with low quality searches raises concerns. Given the critical role of systematic reviews in shaping clinical practice and policies, ensuring their quality is essential. In our prior study, currently under revision by Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods, we evaluated and recommended improvements to the author instructions of biomedical and health sciences journals concerning the conducting and reporting of systematic reviews. Our prior research demonstrated that one third of the journals lack tailored guidance for systematic reviews, as demonstrated by the absence of references to conducting or reporting guidelines, protocol registration, data sharing, and the involvement of an information specialist. Half of the author instructions do not include a dedicated section on systematic reviews, hampering the findability of tailored information. The involvement of information specialists is seldomly acknowledged. Ultimately, the absence of an update date in most author instructions raises concerns about the incorporation of the most recent developments and tools for systematic reviews.
Objectives: Our implementation project aims to disseminate our research findings, implement the derived recommendations, ultimately contributing to enhancing the quality of published systematic reviews.
Methods: By actively involving key stakeholders (including editors, editorial organisations, peer reviewers, authors, and information specialists), we will strategically disseminate our research findings. Simultaneously, we will formulate specific milestones and objectives, develop a comprehensive implementation plan, and assess the impact of our recommendations.
Results: In our prior study we made recommendations for journals drawn from the study's observations, aiming to help editorial teams enhance author instructions and, consequently, potentially assisting systematic reviewers in improving the quality of their reviews. At the Global Evidence Summit 2024, we aim to present our results, recommendations and implementation strategy.
Conclusion: Journals that make substantial contributions to synthesising evidence in biomedicine and health sciences are missing an opportunity to provide clear guidance within their author instructions regarding the conducting and reporting for reliable systematic reviews. By setting up a multifaceted implementation approach, we aim to inclusively engage with relevant parties, foster effective communication and implementation of relevant improvements.
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Objectives: Our implementation project aims to disseminate our research findings, implement the derived recommendations, ultimately contributing to enhancing the quality of published systematic reviews.
Methods: By actively involving key stakeholders (including editors, editorial organisations, peer reviewers, authors, and information specialists), we will strategically disseminate our research findings. Simultaneously, we will formulate specific milestones and objectives, develop a comprehensive implementation plan, and assess the impact of our recommendations.
Results: In our prior study we made recommendations for journals drawn from the study's observations, aiming to help editorial teams enhance author instructions and, consequently, potentially assisting systematic reviewers in improving the quality of their reviews. At the Global Evidence Summit 2024, we aim to present our results, recommendations and implementation strategy.
Conclusion: Journals that make substantial contributions to synthesising evidence in biomedicine and health sciences are missing an opportunity to provide clear guidance within their author instructions regarding the conducting and reporting for reliable systematic reviews. By setting up a multifaceted implementation approach, we aim to inclusively engage with relevant parties, foster effective communication and implementation of relevant improvements.
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