A scoping review identifies comments suggesting modifications to PRISMA-P 2015.

Area of Science:

• Systematic review methodology
• Research reporting guidelines

Background:

• The PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) 2015 guideline provides a framework for reporting systematic review protocols.
• Published comments offer valuable feedback for refining reporting standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify, summarize, and analyze comments related to the PRISMA-P 2015 guideline.
• To specifically identify suggestions for modifying the existing guideline.

Main Methods:

• Searched multiple bibliographic databases and other sources (e.g., BMJ rapid responses, BMC Blog Network) from 2015 to 2024.
• Included 28 documents containing 38 relevant comments, categorizing them as modifications, new items, deletions, or additional comments.
• Analyzed comment themes, rationales, and alignment with current PRISMA-P 2015 guidance.

Main Results:

• Eleven comments suggested modifications to existing PRISMA-P 2015 items, notably concerning eligibility criteria and data synthesis.
• Eleven comments proposed new items, with the data items section receiving the most suggestions.
• No comments suggested deleting existing items; most provided rationales and requested expanded guidance.

Conclusions:

• Feedback highlights areas for improvement in the PRISMA-P 2015 guideline, particularly regarding eligibility criteria and data synthesis.
• The identified issues provide context for users and will inform the planned update of the PRISMA-P guideline.