Background
Methods
Search strategy
The identification of tools for inclusion
Feature analysis
User survey
Results
Identification of software tools
Feature analysis
Themes | Features | Code | Weightinga |
---|---|---|---|
Economic | The tool does not require financial payment to use. | T1-F1 | HD |
Ease of Introduction and Setup | The tool has straightforward system requirements | T2-F1 | HD |
There is an installation guide (where applicable) | T2-F2 | D | |
There is a tutorial/help section | T2-F3 | D | |
The software does not require user to code | T2-F4 | HD | |
There is an app for mobile/tablet | T2-F5 | D | |
Systematic Review Support | Supports deduplication | T3-F1 | D |
Supports title and abstract screening | T3-F2 | – | |
Supports full text screening | T3-F3 | D | |
Supports data extraction | T3-F4 | N | |
Supports other stages of the review | T3-F5 | N | |
Process Management | Support for multiple users | T4-F1 | M |
Support for multiple projects | T4-F2 | D | |
Choice of single or double screen before progression | T4-F3 | HD | |
Work Allocation | T4-F4 | HD | |
Management of roles | T4-F5 | D | |
Reference Management | Import of References | T5-F1 | – |
Export of References | T5-F2 | M | |
Export of Decisions | T5-F3 | M | |
Import of .pdfs | T5-F4 | D | |
Workflow | The tool is flexible to varying workflow | T6-F1 | HD |
Short User Set-up (before screening can begin) | T6-F2 | D | |
Progress is monitored and fed back to user | T6-F3 | HD | |
Screening Features | Include/Exclude Option | T7-F1 | – |
Key word highlighting (or similar) | T7-F2 | D | |
Can filter citations by category | T7-F3 | D | |
Can search citations (i.e. search engine) | T7-F4 | D | |
Further categorize/label references | T7-F5 | HD | |
Blind screeners to decisions of others. | T7-F6 | HD | |
Conflict Resolutions | T7-F7 | HD | |
Citation classification/ranking tool (clustering/ML) | T7-F8 | N | |
Security | Insecure website | T8-F1 | HD |
User survey
Categories | Respondent characteristic | Number (n = 6) | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
Research Position | Medical Student | 1 | 16.7% |
PhD Student | 1 | 16.7% | |
Postdoctoral Researcher | 3 | 50.0% | |
Medical Librarian | 1 | 16.7% | |
Systematic Review Experience | Carried out T&Ab Screening | 6 | 100% |
Managed T&Ab Screening | 4 | 66.7% | |
Led a Systematic Review | 4 | 66.7% | |
Number of Systematic Review Projects in the Last Year | 0 to 2 | 1 | 16.7% |
3 to 5 | 2 | 33.3% | |
6 to 10 | 2 | 33.3% | |
More than 10 | 1 | 16.7% | |
Current T&Ab Screening System | Reference Manager | 3 | 50.0% |
Spreadsheet | 1 | 16.7% | |
Software Package | 2 | 33.3% | |
Previous Software experience | Used software previously | 6 | 100.0% |
Rayyan | 5 | 83.3% | |
Covidence | 2 | 33.3% | |
Preferences for T&Ab screening | Would prefer to use a software tool | 6 | 100% |
Believe a software tool would be well received by collaborators | 6 | 100% |
Strengths | Weaknesses | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Themes | Supporting Quotations | Themes | Supporting Quotations | |
Rayyan | Simple and easy to use. (6) | “So easy to use..” “Very simple to import and export.” | Too much content on the side panel. (2) | “I don’t think the sections of the left side of the screen are helpful” “<it suggests> keywords to include/exclude - it means you have to start by deleting theirs” |
DRAGON | Flexible/provides many options. (3) | “..there might be many things you could do with DRAGON...” “..lots of flexibility in the set-up…” | Hard to setup (compared to other tools). (6) | “Quite complicate initially to set up..” “Not clear how to set up and use.” |
Abstrackr | Simple option for “basic” screening. (5) | “..simple screening method…” “Easy to set-up and do basic screening.” | Poor quality user interface. (3) | “..it felt a bit clunky..” “Not a very professional website…” |
Good for collaborating. (2) | “...flexible in terms of team working” “Good options for collaborative projects” | Format of exported citations. (2) | “Exporting not as clear format as Covidence or Rayyan.” “..0 or − 1 as identifiers of exclude are ambiguous..” | |
EPPI-reviewer | Could be useful in large/ complex projects with multiple stages. (3) | “..it could be helpful with all stages of the review.” “good coding elements … < for>..a very large review” | Complex, difficult (not intuitive) to use. (5) | “Makes the screening very cumbersome.” “Very bad layout that is not self-explanatory.” |
Difficulties getting started. (2a) | “Difficult to access and start using…” “Had to install software and use internet explorer.” | |||
Instructions/help section. (2) | “..needed to watch a slow video for instructions.” “Could not find help section/tutorial.” | |||
Covidence | Easy to use, good user interface. (3) | “Simple user interface…” “.. - very clear and simple, not too much information on the page.” | Issues with help section. (2) | “..no clear help function “…videos in help section didn’t have subtitles …difficult to use if no volume/in office” |
Able to export into many formats. (2) | “..able to export citations and decisions into Excel and < reference managers>“ “...ability to export as .ris or .csv …” | |||
Supports PRISMA flow diagram (and other extra features). (3) | “...ability to generate PRIMSA flowchart…” “Some of the extra features are nice (e.g. …generate a PRISMA diagram)...” | |||
Colandr | Easy to use/good interface. (3) | “…aesthetically pleasing <the interface>… and simple to use.” “Simple user interface…” | Required to provide exclusion reason at title and abstract stage. (2) | “…you have to give a reason for exclusion at title and abstract stage…” “..having to include a reason for all exclusions” |
Easy to import citations. (2) | “Simple to import.” “...easy to import…” | Slow processing of decisions (especially excluded citations). (4) | “…a little slow to respond…” “...excluded citations not disappearing…” |