Background: Overviews of reviews were originally conceived by Cochrane to offer a “friendly front-end” to their systematic reviews. Overviews are useful for decision-makers (healthcare providers, policy makers, patients) because they bring together systematic reviews on related topics (e.g., different interventions for a given condition) in a single product. The Cochrane Handbook provides methodological guidance; however, to date, there has been no reporting guideline for overviews. Consistent and transparent reporting is critical to support the production and use of trusted evidence.
Objectives: Describe the development of the Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews (PRIOR) reporting guideline and discuss dissemination strategies.
Methods: We followed the approach recommended by the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network. An international team from eight countries and four continents developed PRIOR, including members with various roles (e.g., reviewers, methodologists, journal editors, public, representatives of organizations that produce reviews). Multiple stages occurred: establishing a team and protocol, establishing the need for a reporting guideline through evidence reviews of published overviews, systematic reviews of existing methodological guidance, modified Delphi to identify relevant items for reporting, and development of the guideline.
Results: PRIOR consists of a checklist (27 main items, 19 sub-items), explanation and elaboration document, and flow diagram. A manuscript describing PRIOR was published in the British Medical Journal (doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-070849). PRIOR is also available through the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/reporting-guideline-for-overviews-of-reviews-of-healthcare-interventions-development-of-the-prior-statement/).
Conclusions: PRIOR fills an important need for an evidence-based reporting guideline to support authors of overviews of reviews. Active efforts are needed to ensure effective dissemination and uptake. Dissemination plans include communication strategies and materials (e.g., infographics, tip sheets, blog shots), education modules (e.g., slide decks), presentations (e.g., webinars, workshops), and contacting editors of journals that regularly publish overviews of reviews to encourage endorsement and use by authors and peer-reviewers. Regular evaluations of the reporting quality of published overviews are important to assess the impact of PRIOR and to identify areas that warrant additional detail or clarity. Wide adoption of PRIOR from overview authors will help in the production and use of evidence by decision-makers. Patient/public involvement: Members of the public or patients were involved in the Delphi, attended consensus meetings, and were co-authors.