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Open Science Practices in Systematic Reviews From 2014 to 2024: A Cohort Study of 300 Systematic Reviews
Kenneth Färnqvist1, Patrik Karlsson2, Vera Wachtmeister3
1Molecular Medicine and Surgery Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden.
Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Open science practices like protocol registration are increasing in systematic reviews, but sharing reusable data and code remains uncommon, hindering research verification and reuse.
Area of Science:
- Meta-research
- Bibliometrics
- Scientific publishing
Background:
- Open science practices enhance research transparency and reusability.
- Systematic reviews are crucial for clinical guidance but often lack accessible materials for verification.
- Previous studies indicated limited open science adoption in systematic reviews.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of open science indicators in interventional systematic reviews.
- To assess temporal trends in open science practices from 2014 to 2024.
- To identify gaps in the accessibility of research materials for verification and reuse.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional meta-research study analyzed 300 interventional systematic reviews published in 2024.
- Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL for records indexed Jan-Feb 2024.
- Data extraction assessed protocol registration, data sharing, code sharing, and preprint dissemination, comparing with cohorts from 2014-2020.
Main Results:
- Protocol registration/availability increased significantly (RR 2.03 vs. 2014, RR 1.67 vs. 2020).
- Data availability statements rose (RR 1.98 vs. 2020), but actual data sharing remained low (24%) with nonlinear temporal patterns.
- Code sharing (1%) and preprints (2%) were rare and showed no significant temporal change.
Conclusions:
- While transparency indicators like protocol registration have improved, the sharing of reusable research materials (data, code) is still uncommon.
- A persistent gap exists between declared openness and operational accessibility in systematic reviews.
- More robust mechanisms are needed from journals and funders to improve data sharing and support independent verification and reuse.
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