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How should retrospectively registered protocols be interpreted in systematic reviews?
João Vitor Dos Santos Canellas1, Fernando César Paraizo Borges2
1Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil. joao.canellas@unb.br.
Systematic Reviews
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Prospective protocol registration is the standard for systematic reviews. Retrospectively registered protocols should be appraised for transparency rather than timing, focusing on clear reporting of deviations and overall rigor.
Area of Science:
- Systematic review methodology
- Research integrity
Background:
- Prospective protocol registration is the preferred standard in systematic reviews, enhancing transparency and reducing bias.
- However, retrospective registration of protocols still occurs, posing challenges for interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how retrospectively registered protocols can be interpreted transparently and methodologically.
- To propose a transparency-oriented appraisal framework for retrospectively registered protocols.
Main Methods:
- The commentary discusses the implications of retrospective registration in systematic reviews.
- It proposes an appraisal framework focusing on transparency, reporting of deviations, and methodological rigor.
Main Results:
- Retrospective registration cannot guarantee prespecification of methods.
- A transparency-oriented appraisal is suggested, considering clear reporting of delayed registration and deviations.
Conclusions:
- Retrospectively registered protocols can be interpreted through a transparency lens, emphasizing clear reporting and justification of deviations.
- This approach supports critical appraisal and informed editorial decisions in systematic reviews.
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