LibGuides: Systematic Reviews and other Knowledge Synthesis: Develop protocol

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.

Publishing Protocols

Rather than registering a protocol, you may opt to publish it in a journal. Protocols for systematic reviews are widely accepted for publication; a limited number of journals publish protocols for scoping reviews.

The advice for publishing systematic reviews also applies to publishing protocols. A journal that accepts systematic reviews may also accept protocols. Perhaps the journal's editors can suggest where to register/publish a protocol before submitting the review for publication.

PROSPERO is an international registery of systematic review protocols. The journal JBI Evidence Synthesis accepts systematic reviews and protocols.

See the links below for more ideas about where to submit. In addition, some subject-specific journals may publish protocols. You will need to check the scope and author information for relevant journals.

BMC Systematic Reviews Systematic Reviews encompasses all aspects of the design, conduct and reporting of systematic reviews. The journal publishes high quality systematic review products including systematic review protocols, systematic reviews related to a very broad definition of health, rapid reviews, updates of already completed systematic reviews, and methods research related to the science of systematic reviews, such as decision modelling.
BMJ Open The journal publishes all research study types, from protocols through phase I trials to meta-analyses, including small, specialist studies, and negative studies. Publishing procedures are built around fully open peer review and continuous publication, publishing research online as soon as the article is ready.
JBI Evidence Synthesis JBI Evidence Synthesis is an official journal of JBI. It is an international peer-reviewed, online journal that publishes manuscripts encompassing evidence synthesis and healthcare. JBI Evidence Synthesis seeks to disseminate rigorous, high-quality research that provides the best available evidence to inform policy and practice through the science and conduct of systematic and scoping reviews.
PLOS PLOS publishes a suite of influential Open Access journals across all areas of science and medicine. Rigorously reported, peer reviewed and immediately available without restrictions, promoting the widest readership and impact possible. Titles include: PLOS ONE, PLOS Medicine, PLOS Pathogens.