[Introduction to PRISMA-CI extension statement and checklist systematic reviews on complex interventions]

Area of Science:

• Health systems research
• Public health interventions
• Educational program evaluation

Background:

• Comprehensive interventions are increasingly common in health, public health, and education.
• Systematic reviews are crucial for evaluating these interventions.
• Existing reporting guidelines lack specificity for comprehensive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce PRISMA-CI, an extension of PRISMA for systematic reviews of comprehensive interventions.
• To provide guidance on using PRISMA-CI for authors, publishers, and readers.
• To enhance the quality and consistency of systematic reviews on comprehensive interventions.

Main Methods:

• PRISMA-CI was developed as an extension of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.
• Key items from PRISMA were added or modified to accommodate the complexities of comprehensive interventions.
• An illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the application of PRISMA-CI.

Main Results:

• PRISMA-CI offers specific guidance tailored to comprehensive interventions.
• The guideline addresses reporting features unique to complex, multi-component interventions.
• The paper details the specific modifications and additions to PRISMA items.

Conclusions:

• PRISMA-CI provides essential structure and guidance for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of comprehensive interventions.
• Its adoption will improve the transparency and rigor of research in this field.
• This guideline is crucial as comprehensive interventions gain popularity in various sectors.