LibGuides: Physical Therapy Resources: Protocols

What is a Protocol?

PRISMA definition: A systematic review protocol describes the rationale, hypothesis, and planned methods of the review. It should be prepared before a review is started and used as a guide to carry out the review.

This is especially important because a systematic review is a research method that can guide clinical decision-making. However, protocols can be useful for other review types as well.

Benefits to writing a protocol:

Ensure that your methodology is established a priori
Work out all aspects of the process with your review group before investing too much time
Aligns the group to the intent, methods, and flow of the review
Systematic reviews are a type of research; research requires a protocol

See the links below for examples of protocol templates.

JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis The JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis provides guidance to authors for the conduct and preparation of JBI systematic reviews and evidence syntheses. The JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis has separate chapters devoted to synthesis of different types of evidence and to address different types of review questions.
PRISMA Extension for Systematic Review Protocols PRISMA-P was published in 2015 aiming to facilitate the development and reporting of systematic review protocols. For more information about review protocols, see doi: 10.1186/2046-4053-4-1.
Propsero Protocol Template Use this link to see examples of completed PROSPERO protocols. Users need to register and log in to access the protocol template.

Why Register a Protocol?

Registries list reviews that are in progress. They are important because it lets others in the academic and research community know that a review on your topic is underway. It also provides a registry number for the review group when submitting the final paper for publication.

See the links below for examples of review registries.

Cochrane Authors must select an available topic, draft a protocol, and register with the Cochrane Review Group.
Open Science Framework (OSF) From the Center for Open Science, OSF is a free, open source web application and repository for registering research projects, materials, and data.
PROSPERO PROSPERO accepts registrations for systematic reviews, rapid reviews and umbrella reviews. PROSPERO does not accept scoping reviews or literature scans.