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A scoping review is a study that aims "to map the literature on a particular topic or research area and provide an opportunity to identify key concepts; gaps in the research; and types and sources of evidence to inform practice, policymaking, and research."
Daudt HM, van Mossel C, Scott SJ. Enhancing the scoping study methodology: a large, inter-professional team's experience with Arksey and O'Malley's framework. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2013 Mar 23;13:48. doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-13-48. PMID: 23522333; PMCID: PMC3614526.
Source: Munn, Z., Peters, M.D.J., Stern, C. et al. Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol 18,143 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http//creativecommons.org/licenses/by4.0)
| SCOPING REVIEW | SYSTEMATIC REVIEW |
| To identify the types of available evidence in a given field | Uncover the international evidence |
| To clarify key concepts/ definitions in the literature | Confirm current practice/ address any variation/ identify new practices |
| To examine how research is conducted on a certain topic or field | Identify and inform areas for future research |
| To identify key characteristics or factors related to a concept | Identify and investigate conflicting results |
| As a precursor to a systematic review | Produce statements to guide decision-making |
| To identify and analyze knowledge gaps |
Source: Munn, Z., Peters, M.D.J., Stern, C. et al. Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol 18,143 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http//creativecommons.org/licenses/by4.0)
Scoping reviews: what they are and how you can do them: videos from a Cochrane Learning Live Webinar. Presents an overview of scoping reviews and includes examples, steps of the scoping review process, and methods used in scoping reviews from the literature.
Rapid review - A rapid review is like an accelerated systematic review. It may take 2-4 months to complete. While it assesses the evidence, it lacks the rigor of a full systematic review.
Definitions for various types of reviews are available from Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Info Libr J. 2009 Jun;26(2):91-108. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x. Review. PubMed PMID: 19490148
A meta-analysis uses statistical methods to combine information from a number of separate but similar studies and derive conclusions on that subject.
A literature review intends to provide an overview of a subject. It does not include a systematic search of the literature or a description of the methods used in the review and is sometimes based on author experience. These reviews may be subject to bias.
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