An integrative framework for planning and conducting Non-Interventional, Reproducible, and Open Systematic Reviews (NIRO-SR)

Mounting evidence indicates issues with low adherence to existing guidelines for conducting systematic reviews (SRs), which are partly due to their limited application beyond intervention research. Here, by adapting and building upon existing guidelines, we present the development of the first comprehensive and accessible tool for conducting and reporting Non-Intervention, Reproducible, and Open Systematic Reviews (NIRO-SR). NIRO-SR is a checklist composed of two parts that provide itemised guidance on the preparation of an SR protocol for pre-registration (Part A) and reporting the review (Part B) in a reproducible and transparent manner. This paper, the tool, and an open repository (https://osf.io/f3brw/) providea comprehensive resource for those who aim to conduct a high quality and transparent SR of non-intervention studies