Systematic review protocol
Develop a protocol for a systematic review. Your protocol should be structured using an appropriate reporting guideline/template .
You will:
Provide a succinct background that presents the rationale for the review in the context of what is already known;
Provide a clear and explicit statement of the question(s) the review will address ;
describe the study characteristics/eligibility criteria for included studies ;
Describe all intended information sources ;
present a full draft search strategy to be used for at least one electronic database ;
state the process that will be used for selecting studies through each phase of the review ;
list and define all variables and outcomes for which data will be sought, and describe the method for data extraction, and any processes for obtaining and confirming data from authors;
describe the methods for quality appraisal for individual studies ;
describe the approach to synthesising the findings of included studies, and any analyses that will be carried out .
The protocol should be no more than 3,000 words in length.
