How To Write A Scoping Review: A Comprehensive Guide to Mapping Research

Writing a scoping review can seem daunting at first, but it’s a powerful research method that helps you understand the breadth and depth of existing literature on a specific topic. Unlike systematic reviews, which aim to answer a specific clinical question, scoping reviews provide a preliminary assessment of the scope of available research. This guide breaks down the process step-by-step, equipping you with the knowledge to conduct a robust and impactful scoping review.

1. Defining Your Research Question: The Foundation of Your Review

The first and arguably most crucial step is formulating a clear and focused research question. Your question should be broad enough to capture the relevant literature, yet specific enough to provide a meaningful analysis. Think about what you want to learn. Are you trying to map the existing literature on a specific intervention, condition, or phenomenon? Your question should reflect this.

Consider using the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) framework to guide you:

• Population: Who are you interested in studying? (e.g., patients with diabetes)
• Concept: What are the key concepts or interventions you’re exploring? (e.g., telehealth interventions)
• Context: What is the setting or environment of interest? (e.g., primary care)

A well-defined research question will streamline your search strategy and ensure you collect relevant data.

2. Developing a Comprehensive Search Strategy: Finding the Right Information

Once your research question is established, you need to develop a robust search strategy. This involves identifying relevant databases, selecting appropriate keywords, and using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search. Think strategically about the terms people might use to describe your topic.

Start by brainstorming a list of keywords and synonyms related to your research question, and then test them in various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and even grey literature sources.

Here’s a practical approach to building your search strategy:

• Identify Databases: Select databases relevant to your topic.
• List Keywords: Brainstorm keywords and synonyms.
• Use Boolean Operators: Combine keywords using AND, OR, and NOT.
• Test and Refine: Iteratively test your search strategy and refine it based on the results.
• Document Your Search: Meticulously document your search process, including dates, databases, and search terms. This transparency is critical for reproducibility.

3. Selecting Studies: Defining Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

After you have a well-defined search strategy, you need to establish clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. These criteria will determine which studies are relevant to your review and should be based on your research question and objectives.

Consider these points when creating inclusion and exclusion criteria:

• Study Design: Are you including all study designs, or are you focusing on specific types (e.g., randomized controlled trials)?
• Population: Does the population in the study match your population of interest?
• Intervention/Concept: Does the study address the concept you’re exploring?
• Context: Does the setting align with your context of interest?
• Publication Date: Will you restrict studies based on publication date?

Document your inclusion and exclusion criteria meticulously. This will help ensure consistency in your study selection process.

4. Screening Studies: Identifying Relevant Publications

Once you’ve developed your inclusion and exclusion criteria, you’ll need to screen the search results to identify relevant studies. This typically involves two stages:

• Title and Abstract Screening: Review the titles and abstracts of the search results to assess their relevance.
• Full-Text Screening: Retrieve the full texts of potentially relevant studies and assess them based on your inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Maintain a detailed record of your screening process. This includes the number of records screened, the number excluded at each stage, and the reasons for exclusion. This is often documented using a PRISMA flow diagram.

5. Data Extraction: Gathering the Essential Information

Data extraction is the process of collecting the key information from the included studies. This involves creating a data extraction form, which is a standardized tool used to collect the relevant data from each study.

Your data extraction form should include:

• Study Characteristics: Author, year of publication, study design, sample size, and location.
• Population Characteristics: Demographics, clinical characteristics.
• Intervention/Concept Characteristics: Details of the intervention or concept being studied.
• Key Findings: The main results and conclusions of each study.

Pilot test your data extraction form on a few studies to ensure it captures all the necessary information and is easy to use.

6. Charting the Data: Organizing and Summarizing the Evidence

After data extraction, you’ll need to chart, or organize and summarize, the extracted data. This can involve creating tables, figures, and narrative summaries to synthesize the findings. The goal is to present a clear and comprehensive overview of the existing literature.

Consider these strategies for charting your data:

• Create Tables: Use tables to summarize study characteristics, key findings, and other relevant data.
• Develop Figures: Use figures to visualize trends, patterns, and relationships in the data.
• Write Narrative Summaries: Provide narrative summaries of the key findings, highlighting the main themes and patterns.
• Thematic Analysis: Identify common themes and subthemes across the studies.

The format of your charting will depend on your research question and the nature of the included studies.

7. Analyzing and Synthesizing the Results: Making Sense of the Data

The analysis phase involves synthesizing the extracted data to identify patterns, themes, and gaps in the literature. This is where you interpret the evidence and draw conclusions about the scope of research on your topic.

Focus on:

• Identifying Themes: Look for recurring themes and patterns across the studies.
• Mapping the Evidence: Chart the existing literature to show the breadth and depth of research.
• Highlighting Gaps: Identify areas where research is lacking or where further investigation is needed.
• Describing the Characteristics of the Body of Research: Discuss the study designs, populations, and interventions/concepts that have been studied.

8. Reporting the Results: Presenting Your Findings Clearly

The final step is to write up your scoping review. This involves presenting your findings in a clear, concise, and organized manner. Your report should include:

• Introduction: Background information, research question, and objectives.
• Methods: Detailed description of your search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data extraction process.
• Results: Presentation of your findings, including tables, figures, and narrative summaries.
• Discussion: Interpretation of the findings, including strengths, limitations, and implications for future research.
• Conclusion: Summary of the main findings and recommendations for future research.

9. Limitations and Strengths: Acknowledging the Scope of Your Review

It’s important to acknowledge the limitations of your scoping review. No study is perfect, and it’s important to be transparent about the potential biases and limitations of your methods.

Common limitations include:

• Potential for Bias: The search strategy or study selection process may have introduced bias.
• Heterogeneity of Studies: The included studies may have used different methodologies, making it difficult to compare results.
• Subjectivity in Data Extraction: Data extraction may be subjective and could be influenced by the researchers’ interpretation.

However, also highlight the strengths of your review:

• Comprehensive Search: Describe how you took steps to ensure a comprehensive search.
• Transparent Methods: Emphasize the transparency of your methods.
• Rigorous Data Extraction: Explain how you ensured the accuracy of your data extraction.

10. Disseminating Your Findings: Sharing Your Insights

Once you’ve completed your scoping review, it’s crucial to disseminate your findings. This can be achieved through various channels, including:

• Publishing in Peer-Reviewed Journals: Submit your review to a relevant journal.
• Presenting at Conferences: Share your findings at academic conferences.
• Sharing with Stakeholders: Present your findings to policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
• Open Access Platforms: Consider publishing your review on open access platforms to increase its visibility.

By sharing your findings, you contribute to the body of knowledge and help inform future research and practice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the primary difference between a scoping review and a systematic review?

Scoping reviews aim to provide a broad overview of the existing literature on a topic, while systematic reviews aim to answer a specific clinical question. Systematic reviews are more focused and often involve a meta-analysis to synthesize the results of included studies.

How do I determine the appropriate scope for my scoping review?

The scope of your review should be driven by your research question and the existing literature. Start with a broad question and refine it as you conduct your preliminary searches and review the literature. Your inclusion/exclusion criteria will help to determine the final scope.

How do I manage and organize the large volume of literature often encountered in scoping reviews?

Use reference management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) to organize your references. Create a spreadsheet or database to track your screening process, data extraction, and analysis. This will ensure you keep the process organized.

What are the ethical considerations involved in conducting a scoping review?

Similar to other types of research, you need to be mindful of plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and data privacy. Be transparent about your methods and the limitations of your review. If you are conducting a systematic review that includes primary data collection, you must also obtain ethical approval.

What is the role of a protocol in a scoping review?

Developing a protocol before you begin the review is crucial. This documents your research question, search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data extraction methods. This protocol will help to ensure the rigor and transparency of your review.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Scoping Reviews

Writing a scoping review is a valuable skill for researchers seeking to map the existing literature on a specific topic. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can develop a comprehensive search strategy, select relevant studies, extract key data, and synthesize the findings to answer your research question. Remember to be clear, organized, and transparent in your methods. By successfully completing a scoping review, you’ll contribute to the body of knowledge and help inform future research and practice.