Systematic Review Support software system: web-based solution for managing duplicates and screening eligible studies

Escaldelai, Fernanda Martins Dias; Escaldelai, Leandro; Bergamaschi, Denise Pimentel

doi:10.1590/1980-549720220030

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Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

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Sumário

Original Article • Rev. bras. Epidemiol. 25 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720220030 copy

Systematic Review Support software system: web-based solution for managing duplicates and screening eligible studies

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To describe the main functions of the “Systematic Review Support” web-based system for removing duplicate articles and aiding eligibility analysis during the process of conducting systematic review studies.

Methods:

The system was developed based on the incremental build model using the Agile methodology. The software is proprietary source code and was published on a proprietary platform. The architecture of the production environment allows the infrastructure used to increase or decrease according to demand. The system functions are presented with insertion of screenshots of the interfaces of the version for personal computers during the simulation of a systematic review.

Results:

After importing the files containing the abstracts retrieved from the Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, the system identifies and removes duplicates for later reading and analysis of title and abstract, a stage which can be performed by one or more reviewers independently. After unblinding of reviewers, the decisions on the eligibility of the studies are compared automatically to help the researchers reach a consensus on any disagreements. Results can be filtered and a PDF produced containing the eligible studies.

Conclusion:

Version 1.0 of the system is available on the web (sysrev.azurewebsites.net) to assist researchers in the initial stages of systematic reviews.

Keywords:
Databases, bibliographic; Cloud computing; Systematic review; Software; Information technology

Functionality	Description
User identification	It is about creating, changing data, authentication and permissions of a user. Anonymous access to system functionality should not be allowed.
Identification of the systematic review	It is about creating, changing and deleting a systematic review.
Import of abstracts	This involves importing the abstracts into the system's database through text files exported from the source databases, such as Medline via PubMed, Embase and Web of Science.
Organization of abstracts	The organization of studies refers to ordering, identification, separation into groups and removal of duplicate abstracts.
Eligibility process	It involves the reading and analysis of titles and abstracts by the reviewers to assist in the selection of eligible studies. It includes the automatic comparison of decisions and the identification of disagreements between reviewers on the eligibility of abstracts. The main reviewer is allowed to include eligibility criteria, to send an invitation to other reviewers and to decide whether or not to keep blinding among researchers. Reviewers are allowed to obtain a PDF file containing all abstracts.

Criterion	Data description
Database	PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
Search phrase	“cystic fibrosis” AND (“child” OR “adolescent”) AND (“nutrition assessment” OR “nutritional status” OR “body composition” OR “anthropometry” OR “Absorptiometry, Photon” OR “electric impedance” OR “electric conductivity” OR “body mass index” OR “waist circumference” OR “skinfold thickness” OR “body weight” OR “body height”).
Publication period	2008–2018.
Languages	English and Portuguese.
Participants	Children and adolescents diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Type of study	Observational or clinical studies.
Outcome (primary or secondary)	Anthropometric and body composition measurements and indices obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and electrical bioimpedance.
Eligibility Criteria	Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis; age group between six and 18 years; assessment of nutritional status with at least one measure or anthropometric and body composition index.

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E-mail: revbrepi@usp.br

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[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Fernanda Martins Dias Escaldelai. Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, CEP 01246-904, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. E-mail: fernandamartins@usp.br