title: A scoping review on the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scoping reviews are used to identify knowledge gaps, set research agendas, and identify implications for decision-making. The conduct and reporting of scoping reviews is inconsistent in the literature. We conducted a scoping review to identify: papers that utilized and/or described scoping review methods; guidelines for reporting scoping reviews; and studies that assessed the quality of reporting of scoping reviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched nine electronic databases for published and unpublished literature scoping review papers, scoping review methodology, and reporting guidance for scoping reviews. Two independent reviewers screened citations for inclusion. Data abstraction was performed by one reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. Quantitative (e.g. frequencies of methods) and qualitative (i.e. content analysis of the methods) syntheses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After searching 1525 citations and 874 full-text papers, 516 articles were included, of which 494 were scoping reviews. The 494 scoping reviews were disseminated between 1999 and 2014, with 45% published after 2012. Most of the scoping reviews were conducted in North America (53%) or Europe (38%), and reported a public source of funding (64%). The number of studies included in the scoping reviews ranged from 1 to 2600 (mean of 118). Using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology guidance for scoping reviews, only 13% of the scoping reviews reported the use of a protocol, 36% used two reviewers for selecting citations for inclusion, 29% used two reviewers for full-text screening, 30% used two reviewers for data charting, and 43% used a pre-defined charting form. In most cases, the results of the scoping review were used to identify evidence gaps (85%), provide recommendations for future research (84%), or identify strengths and limitations (69%). We did not identify any guidelines for reporting scoping reviews or studies that assessed the quality of scoping review reporting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of scoping reviews conducted per year has steadily increased since 2012. Scoping reviews are used to inform research agendas and identify implications for policy or practice. As such, improvements in reporting and conduct are imperative. Further research on scoping review methodology is warranted, and in particular, there is need for a guideline to standardize reporting.
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. TriccoA@smh.ca.|Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 6th floor, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3 M7, Canada. TriccoA@smh.ca.
authors: Andrea C
authors: AC
authors: Tricco
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. LillieE@smh.ca.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Lillie
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. ZarinW@smh.ca.
authors: Wasifa
authors: W
authors: Zarin
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Room 160, Toronto, ON, M5G 1 V7, Canada. Kelly.OBrien@utoronto.ca.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 4th Floor, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3 M6, Canada. Kelly.OBrien@utoronto.ca.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: O'Brien
authors: Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1 V7, Canada. Heather.Colquhoun@utoronto.ca.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Colquhoun
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. Monika.Kastner@utoronto.ca.|Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 6th floor, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3 M7, Canada. Monika.Kastner@utoronto.ca.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Kastner
authors: School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Ottawa, 200 Lees Avenue, Room A120, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6 N5, Canada. d.levac@neu.edu.
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Levac
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. carmen_hm_ng@yahoo.ca.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Ng
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. PearsonSharJ@smh.ca.
authors: Jane Pearson
authors: JP
authors: Sharpe
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. katherine_wilson@rogers.com.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Wilson
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. mkenny@mcmaster.ca.
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Kenny
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. rwarren@mcmaster.ca.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Warren
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. charlotte.wilson@rogers.com.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Wilson
authors: Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2 T9, Canada. tstelfox@ucalgary.ca.
authors: Henry T
authors: HT
authors: Stelfox
authors: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, 209 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1 W8, Canada. sharon.straus@utoronto.ca.|Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 27 Kings College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada. sharon.straus@utoronto.ca.
authors: Sharon E
authors: SE
authors: Straus
mesh_terms: D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011642:Publications / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011786:Quality Control; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards*; D000098584:Scoping Reviews as Topic