Rayyan-a web and mobile app for systematic reviews.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Systematic Reviews

Background:

• Systematic reviews synthesize evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Manual screening of search results is time-consuming and can lack speed and accuracy.
• Automating systematic reviews is crucial for timely access to current best evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate Rayyan, a free web and mobile application for semi-automating systematic review screening.
• To assess Rayyan's usability, accuracy, and time-saving potential compared to manual methods.

Main Methods:

• Beta testing involved two published Cochrane reviews with manually selected studies.
• Rayyan's features, including a prediction model, were tested on 1030 and 273 records.
• User feedback was collected through surveys and an in-app feature.

Main Results:

• Rayyan demonstrated usability and accuracy in identifying relevant studies.
• Users reported an average time saving of 40%, with 34% saving over 50%.
• Key features highlighted by users include screening, labeling, collaboration, and time savings.

Conclusions:

• Rayyan is a responsive and intuitive tool that significantly reduces reviewer workload.
• The application streamlines the systematic review process, improving efficiency and accessibility.