For authors
Article Types
Each evidence-synthesis format has its own reporting, protocol, methodological and supplementary-material requirements. Word counts exclude the abstract, references, tables, figure legends and supplementary files.
Systematic Review
- Main text
- Up to 6,000 words
- Abstract
- Up to 300 words
- Keywords
- 3–8
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 8 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit; include only relevant and verified sources
Protocol
Prospective registration is required before formal screening or data extraction. Use PROSPERO when eligible; otherwise use OSF or another permanent public registry.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA 2020
- PRISMA-S
- PRISMA-P for protocols
- Applicable PRISMA extension where relevant
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract: Background, Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusions
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
- Tables and figure legends
Methodological expectations
- Explicit review question and eligibility criteria
- Complete reproducible searches for every source
- Independent screening and data extraction
- Design-appropriate risk-of-bias assessment
- Pre-specified synthesis methods
- GRADE or another justified certainty framework where applicable
Supplementary materials
- Completed PRISMA checklist
- PRISMA flow diagram
- Protocol or registry record
- Complete search strategies
- Excluded full-text studies with reasons
- Data extraction materials
- Risk-of-bias judgements
- Evidence profiles
- Analysis data and code where applicable
Meta-Analysis
- Main text
- Up to 6,500 words
- Abstract
- Up to 300 words
- Keywords
- 3–8
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 8 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
Prospective registration is required before formal screening or data extraction.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA 2020
- PRISMA-S
- PRISMA-NMA for network meta-analysis
- PRISMA-DTA for diagnostic accuracy
- PRISMA-IPD for individual participant data
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
- Tables and figure legends
Methodological expectations
- Pre-specified effect measures and outcomes
- Justification of fixed-effect or random-effects models
- Assessment of heterogeneity and small-study effects
- Sensitivity and subgroup analyses
- Certainty-of-evidence assessment
- Reproducible analytic code
Supplementary materials
- Reporting checklist and flow diagram
- Protocol
- Complete search strategies
- Study-level extracted data
- Risk-of-bias assessments
- GRADE evidence profiles
- Statistical code and machine-readable analysis dataset
Scoping Review
- Main text
- Up to 5,500 words
- Abstract
- Up to 300 words
- Keywords
- 3–8
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 8 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
A public protocol is required. Authors must report amendments and explain any retrospective registration.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA-ScR
- PRISMA-S
- JBI guidance where appropriate
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Clearly defined concept, population and context
- Transparent source selection and charting process
- Complete search strategies
- Justified approach to critical appraisal if performed
- Clear distinction between mapping and effectiveness conclusions
Supplementary materials
- PRISMA-ScR checklist
- Flow diagram
- Protocol
- Complete search strategies
- Data-charting form
- Charted evidence dataset
Evidence Map
- Main text
- Up to 5,000 words
- Abstract
- Up to 300 words
- Keywords
- 3–8
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 10 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
A public protocol is required before screening.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA-ScR
- PRISMA-S
- GMR Evidence Map Checklist
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Research gaps and implications
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Explicit mapping framework and coding taxonomy
- Transparent search and screening
- Reproducible evidence classification
- Clear visualisation of evidence concentrations and gaps
- No unsupported effectiveness conclusions
Supplementary materials
- Completed checklists
- Flow diagram
- Protocol
- Complete search strategies
- Coding framework
- Machine-readable evidence map dataset
Umbrella Review
- Main text
- Up to 6,000 words
- Abstract
- Up to 300 words
- Keywords
- 3–8
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 8 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
Prospective registration is required.
Reporting guidance
- PRIOR
- PRISMA-S
- PRISMA 2020 where relevant
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Pre-specified eligibility for systematic reviews
- Assessment with ROBIS and/or AMSTAR 2
- Management of overlapping primary studies
- Quantification of overlap where applicable
- Transparent handling of discordant reviews
- Certainty assessment appropriate to overview methods
Supplementary materials
- PRIOR checklist
- Protocol
- Complete search strategies
- List of included reviews and primary-study overlap matrix
- ROBIS/AMSTAR 2 assessments
- Evidence profiles
Rapid Review
- Main text
- Up to 4,500 words
- Abstract
- Up to 250 words
- Keywords
- 3–6
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 6 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
A dated protocol is required. Every accelerated or abbreviated method must be specified in advance and justified.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA 2020
- PRISMA-S
- GMR Rapid Review Checklist. PRISMA-RR remains under development; use the final extension when officially published.
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion including limitations introduced by rapid methods
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Explicit rationale for rapid approach
- Description of every methodological shortcut
- Assessment of likely impact of shortcuts
- At least one independent verification step for critical decisions
- Proportionate risk-of-bias and certainty assessment
Supplementary materials
- Completed GMR and PRISMA checklists
- Flow diagram
- Protocol
- Full search strategies
- Excluded full texts with reasons
- Extraction data and appraisal results
Methodological Review
- Main text
- Up to 5,000 words
- Abstract
- Up to 250 words
- Keywords
- 3–6
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 6 combined tables and figures
- References
- No fixed limit
Protocol
Required when systematic searching, selection or comparative appraisal is undertaken.
Reporting guidance
- PRISMA 2020 or PRISMA-ScR as applicable
- PRISMA-S
- GMR Methodological Review Checklist
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Structured abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Practical recommendations
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Explicit methodological question
- Transparent selection of methods or studies
- Reproducible search when literature is systematically identified
- Pre-specified comparison framework
- Clear distinction between evidence and expert interpretation
Supplementary materials
- Applicable checklist
- Protocol where required
- Complete search strategies
- Method-comparison framework
- Extraction or appraisal dataset
Narrative Review (invited)
- Main text
- Up to 4,000 words
- Abstract
- Up to 250 words
- Keywords
- 3–6
- Tables and figures
- Normally up to 6 combined tables and figures
- References
- Normally up to 100; exceptions require editorial approval
Protocol
Not required. Authors must still describe how sources were identified and selected.
Reporting guidance
- SANRA
- GMR Narrative Review Checklist
Required manuscript sections
- Title page
- Unstructured or semi-structured abstract
- Introduction and objectives
- Thematic main text
- Critical discussion
- Limitations
- Conclusions
- Declarations
- References
Methodological expectations
- Clear justification and objectives
- Transparent description of literature identification
- Balanced use of relevant evidence
- Explicit distinction between evidence and opinion
- Discussion of uncertainty and limitations
Supplementary materials
- Completed GMR Narrative Review Checklist
- Search description or source list when appropriate
- Additional evidence tables where useful