ClinQuiry — Clinical Research, Taught in Sequence

Core summary

A scoping review maps the extent, range, and nature of evidence on a broad topic. Unlike systematic reviews, it does not assess study quality or provide a pooled answer — instead, it identifies gaps, key concepts, and types of available evidence to inform future research.

Detailed explanation

Scoping reviews follow the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005), refined by Levac, Colquhoun, and O'Brien. The steps are: (1) identify the research question (broader than a systematic review question), (2) identify relevant studies through comprehensive searching, (3) select studies using iterative team-based criteria, (4) chart the data (extract key information into a standardized table), and (5) collate, summarize, and report results — often using tables, charts, and thematic maps. An optional sixth stage involves consultation with stakeholders. Scoping reviews are reported using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). They are ideal when: the evidence base is vast and heterogeneous, you want to identify gaps for future systematic reviews, you need to clarify working definitions of a concept, or you want to map the types and sources of evidence on an emerging topic. They do not replace systematic reviews for answering specific treatment questions.

Clinical example

You want to understand 'What research exists on telemedicine in rural primary care?' This is too broad for a systematic review. A scoping review maps all relevant studies — RCTs, qualitative studies, case reports — charting their settings, populations, interventions, and outcomes. The result is a comprehensive landscape of the evidence.

Research example

Before launching a large systematic review on digital health interventions for mental health, a research team conducted a scoping review. They found over 300 studies spanning 15 types of interventions and 8 mental health conditions — information that helped them narrow their systematic review question to a manageable scope.

Knowledge check

Q1. What is the primary purpose of a scoping review?

Q2. Which framework is most commonly associated with scoping reviews?

Q3. How does a scoping review differ from a systematic review regarding quality assessment?