1. Introduction to Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis Registration Platforms

Clinical trial registration has become well-established, and it is now recommended to pre-register research questions on shared platforms when conducting systematic reviews/meta-analyses, becoming a mainstream trend.

  • Improve transparency of research and reduce publication bias.
  • Enhance the standardization of the research process and ensure the credibility of the results.
  • Ensure comprehensive reporting and reduce waste from redundant studies.
  • Registered meta-analyses are more likely to be published, as high-impact journals require a registration number for submissions.

Reference:

[1] Pieper, D., Rombey, T. Where to prospectively register a systematic review. Syst Rev 11, 8 (2022). https://doi.org/
[2] Tawfik GM, Giang HTN, Ghozy S, et al. Protocol registration issues of systematic review and meta-analysis studies: a survey of global researchers. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2020;20(1):213.

2. PROSPERO Registration Platform (Recommended)

PROSPERO is a prospective registration system for systematic reviews, collaboratively established by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. It aims to enhance the authenticity and scientific rigor of non-Cochrane systematic reviews. Compared to Cochrane, PROSPERO offers several advantages: it has lower registration standards, simpler steps, broader research areas, fewer methodological requirements, and no strict completion deadlines.

Focus Areas:

  • nterventional studies (including qualitative studies and individual participant data meta-analyses)
  • Diagnostic accuracy studies
  • Prognostic factor studies
  • Prevention studies
  • Epidemiological evaluations related to health and social care
  • Public health
  • mplementation of health and social care
  • Methodological evaluations of systematic reviews

URL:

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/

3. Cochrane library

Founded in 1993, the Cochrane Collaboration was established to help healthcare professionals make evidence-based medical decisions. Cochrane Systematic Reviews require Cochrane members to follow guidelines outlined in Cochrane’s standardized handbook, with support and guidance from relevant Cochrane Review Groups (CRG). This process requires approval at each stage, from title registration through to the completion of the full review, with input from CRG editors and peer reviewers.

Key Areas of Focus:

  • diagnostic test accuracy reviews
  • intervention reviews
  • prognosis reviews
  • methodology reviews
  • qualitative reviews

The Cochrane review protocol must be published in the Cochrane Library but may also be published in other journals, such as Systematic Reviews (BMC) or BMJ Open. Authors use a standardized software, Review Manager (RevMan), to draft and manage reviews, which are prioritized for publication in the Cochrane Library. With CRG approval, reviews may also be published in other journals.

URL:

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/

Direct Registration for Topic Groups:https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/our-global-community/review-groups

4. INPLASY Registration Platform (Fee-Based)

Launched in March 2020, the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) serves as an international platform for registering systematic review and meta-analysis protocols. Its goal is to provide quick, accessible registration for everyone to share systematic review protocols.

  • Compared to PROSPERO, INPLASY offers a significantly shorter review cycle, typically publishing protocols within 48 hours of submission.
  • As an independent organization, INPLASY’s operations and development are funded by author-paid registration fees, which vary based on the type of registration. Payment options include Alipay, WeChat, and PayPal.
  • All search and registration records are accessible on the Browse interface. To save records, users must download a PDF and save the registration number.
  • Due to its fee structure, some commercial projects may present potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, INPLASY's relatively recent establishment and lower visibility may lead to limited recognition of its registrations.

URL:

https://inplasy.com/

5.Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)

The JBI Evidence-Based Healthcare Center, primarily focused on the field of nursing, is the largest global collaboration for evidence-based nursing. To register a systematic review on this platform, researchers must first register as users via the JBI Library. Registration, protocol submission, and publication of a systematic review on JBI require thorough evaluation.

URL:

https://jbi.global/

6.Campbell Collaboration (Non-Medical Fields)

The Campbell Collaboration, a sister organization to the Cochrane Collaboration, aims to collaborate with Cochrane by providing rigorous systematic reviews and decision-making support in non-medical fields such as social science, psychology, education, justice, and international development policy.

URL:

https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/

Steps for Writing a Campbell Systematic Review:
  1. Title Registration: Contact the relevant specialty group and complete the title registration form.
  2. Protocol Development: Refine the research topic and methodology, expanding on the registered title by detailing the specific steps for implementation.
  3. Full Review: Conduct quality assessments for included studies, draft the results and discussion sections, synthesize findings from relevant literature, and write the full review.

7.Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE)

The Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE), established in the UK in 2007, is an open academic organization for scientists and managers in the field of global sustainable environment and biodiversity conservation. CEE focuses on synthesizing evidence most relevant to environmental policy and practice.

URL:

https://environmentalevidence.org/