PROSPERO

In the world of medical research, transparency, and rigor are essential to the credibility of a systematic review. PROSPERO, an international prospective register for systematic reviews in health and social care, is the gold standard for ensuring that systematic reviews are conducted with the highest level of integrity. By registering your review with PROSPERO, researchers can openly declare their intent, methodology, and scope, helping to avoid publication bias and ensuring that systematic reviews are conducted in a systematic, transparent, and reproducible manner.

At CliEvi, we understand the importance of PROSPERO registration in the scientific community. Our PROSPERO Registration Services are designed to assist researchers in registering their systematic reviews with this vital resource. From initial consultation to full registration, we guide you every step of the way, ensuring that your review meets the stringent requirements of PROSPERO.

In this page, we will explore the significance of PROSPERO registration, the process involved, and how CliEvi can support your systematic review registration with our expert services.

What is PROSPERO?

PROSPERO is a publicly accessible database that registers systematic reviews in health and social care. It allows researchers to declare their review protocol before starting their work, ensuring transparency and reducing the risk of bias. The registration is freely accessible and helps facilitate the identification and comparison of systematic reviews.

Launched in 2011 by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York, PROSPERO has grown to become a key resource for systematic reviews in the health and social care fields. By registering a systematic review, researchers signal their intent and methodology to the scientific community, which helps prevent duplication, publication bias, and selective reporting of results.

The process of registering with PROSPERO involves submitting detailed information about the systematic review’s objectives, inclusion and exclusion criteria, search strategy, outcomes, and analysis methods. This information serves as a public record that can be consulted by other researchers and stakeholders, promoting transparency and reproducibility.

Why is PROSPERO Registration Important?

PROSPERO registration offers several key benefits that are essential for conducting high-quality systematic reviews:

1. Ensures Transparency and Accountability

Registering your systematic review with PROSPERO ensures that your review's protocol is publicly accessible. This increases transparency and allows others to track your progress, ensuring that the methods you use align with your initial plan. It also helps identify potential conflicts of interest and ensures that reviews are conducted ethically and responsibly.

2. Prevents Duplication of Efforts

Systematic reviews are labor-intensive projects that require significant resources. By registering your review, you help prevent duplication of efforts in the research community. Others can see if similar reviews are already underway, allowing you to focus on unique questions and contribute new insights to the scientific community.

3. Promotes Scientific Rigor and Credibility

PROSPERO registration is a recognized best practice for ensuring the credibility of your systematic review. By following established guidelines and declaring your methods in advance, you demonstrate your commitment to conducting rigorous, evidence-based research.

4. Increases Visibility and Collaboration

PROSPERO registration increases the visibility of your review, making it easier for other researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to find your work. It can also lead to opportunities for collaboration, as other researchers can easily identify gaps in the existing body of evidence and join forces on similar projects.

5. Facilitates Publication and Reporting

Many high-impact journals require that systematic reviews be registered with PROSPERO before submission. This is because PROSPERO serves as a valuable record that ensures the review was conducted with scientific rigor and transparency. Registering your review helps facilitate the publication process and meets the expectations of journal editors and peer reviewers.

The PROSPERO Registration Process

Registering a systematic review with PROSPERO involves several critical steps. These steps must be followed carefully to ensure that your registration meets the necessary criteria.

Step 1: Prepare Your Review Protocol

Before you can submit your review to PROSPERO, you must first prepare a detailed review protocol. This protocol should include the following key elements:

• Review objectives: Clearly define the purpose and goals of your systematic review.
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Specify which studies will be included or excluded from your review based on factors such as population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design.
• Search strategy: Outline the search methods you will use to identify relevant studies, including the databases, keywords, and time frame for inclusion.
• Data extraction and analysis methods: Describe how you will extract and analyze data from the included studies.
• Outcome measures: List the outcomes that you will measure and assess in your review.

The more comprehensive and detailed your protocol, the smoother the PROSPERO registration process will be. At CliEvi, we assist you in preparing your review protocol, ensuring it meets the required standards for PROSPERO registration.

Step 2: Register with PROSPERO

Once your review protocol is ready, you can begin the registration process. This involves creating an account on the PROSPERO website and submitting your review protocol. The PROSPERO registration form includes several sections where you will need to provide the following information:

• Review title and registration details: Provide the title of your review and basic registration information.
• Key contacts: Identify the lead researcher(s) and their affiliations.
• Review protocol details: Submit the protocol details, including objectives, eligibility criteria, search methods, and data analysis plans.
• Ethical considerations: Provide any ethical approvals required for the review.

Once your submission is complete, PROSPERO will assess your protocol and, if everything meets the necessary criteria, will approve your registration. The registration is then publicly accessible on the PROSPERO website.

Step 3: Update Your Registration (If Necessary)

If any changes are made to the protocol after the initial registration, you are required to update your PROSPERO record. This could include modifications to your review objectives, search strategy, or analysis methods. Keeping your registration up-to-date ensures that the public record accurately reflects your review’s progress.

Step 4: Publishing Your Systematic Review

Once your systematic review is complete, it’s time to publish your findings. Many high-impact journals require that systematic reviews be registered with PROSPERO before submission. Having your review registered ensures that your work is considered transparent and credible by journal editors, peer reviewers, and readers.

At CliEvi, we provide comprehensive support not only with the PROSPERO registration but also with the entire review process, including manuscript preparation and publication support. We assist you in writing, formatting, and submitting your review to high-impact journals, ensuring it meets the publication standards.

How CliEvi Can Help with PROSPERO Registration

At CliEvi, we understand that registering a systematic review with PROSPERO can be complex and time-consuming. That's why we offer comprehensive PROSPERO Registration Services to support you throughout the entire process. Our services include:

1. Review Protocol Preparation

Our team works closely with you to develop a detailed review protocol that meets all of PROSPERO’s requirements. We ensure that your objectives, eligibility criteria, search strategy, and data analysis methods are well-defined and aligned with best practices.

2. PROSPERO Registration Submission

We handle the entire submission process, from creating your PROSPERO account to submitting your review protocol. We ensure that all information is accurate and complete, reducing the likelihood of delays or rejections.

3. Continuous Support and Updates

If any changes are required in your review protocol after submission, we help you update your registration to reflect these modifications. Our ongoing support ensures that your PROSPERO record remains current and accurate.

4. Publication Support

After your systematic review is completed, we assist you with manuscript preparation, formatting, and submission to high-impact journals. Our team ensures that your work is polished and ready for publication, increasing the likelihood of acceptance in top-tier journals.

PROSPERO registration is a critical step for researchers conducting systematic reviews in health and social care. By ensuring transparency, preventing duplication, and promoting scientific rigor, PROSPERO registration is an essential tool for ensuring that your systematic review meets the highest standards of research quality.

At CliEvi, we provide expert PROSPERO Registration Services, guiding you through the entire process from protocol preparation to publication. Our team ensures that your review is registered accurately, meets all necessary criteria, and is ready for submission to high-impact journals.

With CliEvi by your side, you can focus on conducting meaningful research while we handle the complexities of PROSPERO registration and publication support.