Abstract
Background and Objectives
Scoping reviews, mapping reviews, and evidence map methodologies are increasingly
used by researchers. The objective of this article is to outline the main difference
between these types of evidence synthesis to improve their conduct.
Methods
This article summarizes the key issues facing reviewers, who conduct scoping reviews,
mapping reviews, and evidence maps and those who use the results and may engage in
consultations during their development.
Results
Several differences exist between the methodologies, and these are in their protocol
development, scope, inclusion criteria, data extraction, reporting, and use. Mapping
reviews are mainly driven by questions of effectiveness of a particular intervention
and hence they use the Participant Intervention Comparator Outcome Study type format
similar to systematic reviews of effectiveness. Scoping reviews mostly use the Participant,
context, concept (PCC) format, where they map a concept of interest relevant to a
particular population in a specific setting and context. Data extraction is limited
by only coding of studies and intervention characteristics in evidence maps. The results
of the mapping reviews can be used inform research priorities and research funding,
whereas, scoping reviews result may be used to inform policy development by clarifying
key concepts and methods, and further research.
Conclusion
We recommend authors who are planning to undertake scoping reviews confirm that their
research question can be appropriately answered using a scoping review methodology,
however, for broader research questions without the need for an in-depth analysis
of the information, we recommend authors to consider mapping reviews.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 26, 2022
Accepted:
May 23,
2022
Footnotes
Funding: There is no funding received for this work. ACT is funded by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Synthesis.
Authors contribution: HK conceptualize, designed and drafted the paper. ACT commented on the draft.
Declaration of interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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