The role of scoping reviews in reducing research waste
Date
2022
Authors
Khalil, H.
Peters, M.D.J.
McInerney, P.A.
Godfrey, C.M.
Alexander, L.
Evans, C.
Pieper, D.
Moraes, E.B.
Tricco, A.C.
Munn, Z.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2022; 152:30-35
Statement of Responsibility
Hanan Khalil, Micah D.J. Peters, Patricia A. McInerney, Christina M. Godfrey, Lyndsay Alexander, Catrin Evans, Dawid Pieper, Erica B. Moraes, Andrea C. Tricco, Zachary Munn, Danielle Pollock
Conference Name
Abstract
<h4>Objectives</h4>Scoping reviews and evidence map methodologies are increasingly being used by researchers. The objective of this article is to examine how scoping reviews can reduce research waste.<h4>Study design and setting</h4>This article summarizes the key issues facing the research community regarding research waste and how scoping reviews can make an important contribution to the reduction of research waste in both primary and secondary research.<h4>Results</h4>The problem of research waste is an enduring challenge for global health, leading to a waste of human and financial resources and producing research outputs that do not provide answers to the most pressing research questions. Research waste occurs within primary research but also in secondary research such as evidence syntheses. The focus of scoping reviews on characterizing the nature of existing evidence on a topic and including all types of evidence, potentially reduces research waste in five ways: (1) identifying key research gaps on a topic, (2) determining appropriate outcome measures, (3) mapping existing methodological approaches, (4) developing a consistent understanding of terms and concepts used in existing evidence, and (5) ensuring scoping reviews do not exacerbate the issue of research waste.<h4>Conclusion</h4>To ensure that scoping reviews do not themselves end up contributing to research waste, it is important to register the scoping review and to ensure that international reporting standards and methodological guidance are followed.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Published online 27 September 2022
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Rights
Crown Copyright © 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.