What is a Scoping Review, Exactly? JBI Provides a Formal Definition in New Publication

A scoping review, by any other name, would be as broad...

Multiple definitions of "scoping review" have been used in the literature and, according to a new paper by Munn and colleagues, the use of these reviews is increasingly common. Therefore, the Joanna Briggs Institute recently released a definition of the term as well as guidance on its proper application in evidence synthesis.

The paper, published in April, formally defines a scoping review as "a type of evidence synthesis that aims to systematically identify and map the breadth of evidence available on a particular topic, field, concept, or issue, often irrespective of source (ie, primary research, reviews, non-empirical evidence) within or across particular contexts." Further, the paper details, scoping reviews "can clarify key concepts/definitions in the literature and identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept, including those related to methodological research."

Scoping reviews are similar to other types of articles within the broader family of evidence syntheses, and should ideally include important characteristics such as the use of pre-specified protocols, question(s), and inclusion/exclusion criteria; a comprehensive search; more than one author; and adherence to guidelines such as the PRISMA statement.

Because the main purpose of a scoping review is the explore and describe the breadth of evidence on a topic, pre-specified questions are usually broader in scope, and the evidence base often includes multiple types of evidence based on what is available. Beyond simply mapping the existing literature, however, scoping reviews may also be used to identify or clarify key concepts used in the field or to examine how research is typically conducted in the area.

Munn, Z, Pollock, D., Khalil, H., et al. (2022). What are scoping reviews? Providing a formal definition of scoping reviews as a type of evidence synthesis. JBI Evid Synth 20(4): 950-952. Manuscript available at publisher's website here. 

Common Challenges Faced by Scoping Reviewers and Ways to Solve Them

Scoping reviews provide an avenue for the exploration, description, and dissemination of a body of evidence before a more systematic review is undertaken. As such, they can help clarify how research on a certain has been defined and conducted, in addition to identifying common issues and knowledge gaps - all of which can go on to inform a more effective approach to systematically reviewing the literature.

The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) has provided guidance on the conduct of scoping reviews since 2013. While developing the latest version published in 2020, the group identified the most common challenges and posed some solutions for those looking to develop a scoping review.

Key challenges included:

• a lack of people trained in methodology unique to scoping reviews (helpful resources can be found on the JBI Global page and elsewhere).
• how to decide when a scoping review is appropriate (hint: they should never be done in lieu of a systematic review if the intention is to provide recommendations)
• deciding which type of review is most appropriate (this online tool can help)
• knowing how much and what type of data to extract - for instance, making determinations between "mapping" of concepts around particular areas, populations, or methodologies and conducting a qualitative thematic analysis
• reporting results effectively, such as with an evidence gap map
• resisting the urge to overstate conclusions and provide recommendations for practice
• a lack of editors and peer reviewers adequately trained to critically revise scoping reviews (the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews - PRISMA ScR - provides a checklist for proper conduct and reporting).

Khalil H., Peters M.D.J., Tricco A.C., et al. (2021). Conducting a high quality scoping review: Challenges and solutions. J Clin Epidemiol 130:156-160.

Manuscript available from publisher's website here.