Scoping Review Writing Service: JBI Methodology and PRISMA-ScR Reporting

ScribeLabWriter's scoping review service follows the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis (2024 edition, Aromataris, Lockwood, Porritt, Pilla, Jordan, editors) and reports all findings according to PRISMA-ScR (Tricco et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2018). Every project is led by a PhD methodologist with evidence synthesis publication experience.

We use the PCC framework (Population, Concept, Context) rather than PICO to build scoping review questions. PCC accommodates the broader, exploratory nature of scoping review questions, allowing you to map evidence without requiring a specific intervention-comparison structure.

A scoping review is appropriate when your goal is to map, explore, or clarify rather than answer a precise clinical question. The JBI Manual (2024, Chapter 11) recommends scoping reviews when the research objective involves one or more of the following:

• Mapping the available evidence on a broad topic before designing a focused systematic review
• Identifying evidence gaps that could inform future primary research or funding decisions
• Exploring the nature, extent, and distribution of research activity in a field
• Clarifying key concepts, definitions, or theoretical frameworks used across a body of literature
• Informing health policy by summarizing what is known and what remains unknown about a complex issue
• Supporting grant proposals by demonstrating the current state of evidence for a research area

If your goal is to answer a specific clinical question with a pooled effect estimate (such as "Does intervention X reduce outcome Y compared to standard care?"), a systematic review with meta-analysis is more appropriate. We offer that through our systematic review writing service and meta-analysis service.

Step 1: Question Development Using PCC

We work with you to frame your scoping review question using the PCC framework. The Population defines who or what is being studied. The Concept defines the core topic or phenomenon. The Context defines the setting, geographic location, or disciplinary lens. The resulting question takes the form: "What is known about [Concept] in [Population] within [Context]?"

Step 2: Protocol Development and Registration

We develop a protocol aligned with JBI scoping review methodology (Chapter 11, JBI Manual, 2024). The protocol defines the PCC question, eligibility criteria, search strategy, data charting variables, and synthesis approach. Scoping review protocols cannot be registered on PROSPERO (PROSPERO accepts only systematic reviews, rapid reviews, and umbrella reviews). We register scoping review protocols on the Open Science Framework (OSF) when your supervisor or journal requires registration.

Step 3: Search Strategy

We build and execute a comprehensive search strategy across a minimum of three databases, with database-specific syntax translation. Grey literature searching (Google Scholar, conference proceedings, organizational reports, thesis repositories) is included when appropriate. The search strategy is built to PRESS standards (McGowan et al., 2016) and reported per PRISMA-S (Rethlefsen et al., 2021).

Step 4: Screening and Data Charting

Title and abstract screening is followed by full-text review against predefined eligibility criteria. Data charting (the scoping review equivalent of data extraction) uses an a priori charting form that captures the variables defined in the protocol. Charting forms can be iteratively refined as the evidence landscape becomes clearer, which is a key feature that distinguishes scoping reviews from systematic reviews.

Step 5: Evidence Mapping, Synthesis, and Manuscript

Results are presented as a descriptive summary with data charting tables, visual evidence gap maps, and a narrative synthesis organized by theme, concept, or population subgroup. The manuscript is written following the PRISMA-ScR 22-item checklist (20 essential items, 2 optional) and formatted to your target journal's guidelines.

• JBI-aligned scoping review protocol with PCC framework
• OSF protocol registration (if required)
• Reproducible search strategy with database-specific syntax
• PRISMA-ScR flow diagram
• PRISMA-ScR checklist with page and section references
• Screening logs with documented decision trail
• A priori data charting form with all extracted variables
• Data charting tables (formatted for journal submission)
• Visual evidence gap map
• Narrative synthesis organized by theme, concept, or population
• Publication-ready manuscript formatted to your target journal's author guidelines
• Complete reference library in your preferred format
• Unlimited revisions