What Is a Scoping Review?
A scoping review is a type of literature review that aims to map the existing research on a particular topic. Unlike a systematic review, which typically answers a specific, focused research question, a scoping review seeks to identify the breadth and depth of literature on a broader topic. It's particularly useful for understanding the range of evidence available, identifying key concepts, gaps in the research, and the types of studies conducted.
Think of it as charting uncharted territory. If you're exploring a new field or trying to understand a complex, multifaceted issue, a scoping review is your compass and map.
Purpose of a Scoping Review
The primary goal of a scoping review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence. This can serve several purposes:
- Identifying the extent of research: To determine how much research has been conducted on a topic.
- Determining the nature of the evidence: To assess the types of studies, populations, interventions, and outcomes that have been investigated.
- Summarizing findings: To synthesize the main findings from the existing literature.
- Identifying research gaps: To pinpoint areas where further research is needed.
- Informing future research: To guide the design of future systematic reviews or primary research.
- Informing policy and practice: To provide a broad understanding of a topic that can help guide decision-making.
When to Choose a Scoping Review
You might opt for a scoping review when:
- The research question is broad or ill-defined.
- You want to understand the variability in approaches or outcomes.
- There's a need to map out a nascent or rapidly evolving field.
- You're unsure if a systematic review is feasible or necessary.
- You aim to identify concepts, theories, or interventions.
For instance, if you're interested in "digital health interventions for chronic disease management," a scoping review would help you understand the vast array of digital tools, the specific chronic diseases targeted, the populations engaged, and the outcomes measured across numerous studies.
The Methodology of a Scoping Review
Scoping reviews follow a structured, reproducible methodology, often guided by frameworks like the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology or the PRISMA-S extension for scoping reviews. The process generally involves five key stages:
Stage 1: Identifying the Research Question
While broader than a systematic review question, the scoping review still needs a clear objective. This question guides the entire review process. It should define the scope of the inquiry, including the population, concept, and context of interest.
- Example: "What are the characteristics of digital health interventions used for managing type 2 diabetes in adult populations, and what outcomes have been reported?"
Stage 2: Identifying Relevant Studies
This stage involves developing a comprehensive search strategy to identify all relevant studies, regardless of their findings or publication status.
- Database Selection: Choose relevant databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO) based on the research topic.
- Search Terms: Develop a robust search string using keywords, MeSH terms, and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).
- Grey Literature: Consider searching grey literature (e.g., conference proceedings, dissertations, government reports) to capture a wider range of evidence.
- Hand-Searching: Review reference lists of included studies and relevant review articles.
Stage 3: Study Selection
Once a large pool of studies is identified, a systematic process is used to select those that meet the inclusion criteria.
- Screening: This is typically done in two stages:
Title and Abstract Screening: Reviewers independently screen titles and abstracts against pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Full-Text Screening: Potentially relevant studies are retrieved in full text and screened again for eligibility.
- Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: These must be clearly defined beforehand and relate to the population, concept, context, and study design.
Stage 4: Data Extraction
This is a crucial step where relevant information is systematically extracted from each included study.
- Data Extraction Form: Develop a standardized form to capture key information. This might include:
Author(s) and year of publication Study design Participant characteristics (age, gender, disease severity) Intervention details (type of digital tool, features, duration) Outcome measures (e.g., HbA1c levels, patient satisfaction, adherence) Key findings
- Pilot Testing: Pilot the data extraction form with a few studies to ensure clarity and consistency.
Stage 5: Charting, Collating, and Reporting the Results
The extracted data is then summarized and presented in a way that addresses the review's objective.
- Charting the Data: Organize the extracted data into tables or matrices. This helps to visualize patterns and trends.
- Qualitative Synthesis: Describe the characteristics of the included studies and synthesize the findings thematically or descriptively.
- Reporting: Present the results clearly and comprehensively, often using a PRISMA flowchart to illustrate the study selection process. This section should highlight the breadth of research, key themes, and identified gaps.
Scoping Reviews vs. Other Literature Reviews
It's important to distinguish a scoping review from other types of literature reviews, particularly systematic reviews and narrative reviews.
Scoping Review vs. Systematic Review
| Feature | Scoping Review | Systematic Review | | :------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Objective | Map the breadth and depth of literature; identify key concepts, gaps, types of evidence. | Answer a specific, focused research question; synthesize evidence to provide a definitive answer. | | Research Question | Broader, exploratory. | Narrow, focused, often PICO-based (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). | | Inclusion Criteria| Broad, to capture diverse study types and populations. | Narrow and specific to the research question. | | Quality Appraisal| Typically not a primary focus, though study characteristics may be noted. | A critical component; studies are appraised for methodological quality. | | Synthesis | Descriptive, thematic, or narrative synthesis of findings. | Statistical synthesis (meta-analysis) if appropriate, or narrative synthesis. | | Outcome | Overview of the field, identification of gaps, direction for future research. | A summary of the evidence, a conclusion regarding the research question. |
Scoping Review vs. Narrative Review
A narrative review is a more traditional and less structured literature review. It's often written by an expert in the field and provides a general overview of a topic.
- Narrative Review:
Methodology: Lacks a systematic, reproducible methodology. Search strategies are often informal. Bias: Susceptible to author bias in study selection and interpretation. Scope: Can be broad or narrow, but the depth of coverage may vary. Purpose: To provide an opinion or overview, often to introduce a topic.
A scoping review, by contrast, is rigorous, systematic, and transparent, ensuring that the mapping of the literature is comprehensive and reproducible.
Challenges and Considerations
Undertaking a scoping review can be demanding:
- Time and Resources: The broad nature of scoping reviews can lead to a large volume of literature, requiring significant time and resources for screening and data extraction.
- Defining Scope: Clearly defining the scope and inclusion criteria is critical to avoid being overwhelmed.
- Heterogeneity: The diverse nature of studies included can make synthesis challenging.
- Reproducibility: Ensuring the methodology is robust enough for others to replicate is key.
Conclusion
Scoping reviews are invaluable tools for understanding the landscape of research on a given topic. They provide a broad overview, identify knowledge gaps, and guide future research endeavors. By employing a systematic and transparent methodology, researchers can effectively map out complex areas of study.
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Key Takeaways
- Scoping reviews map research, not answer specific questions.
- They are characterized by a broad scope and systematic methodology.
- Key stages include identifying studies, selection, extraction, and synthesis.
- They differ significantly from systematic and narrative reviews.
- They are crucial for understanding research landscapes and identifying gaps.