Timeframe: Same amount of time as a systematic review or longer -- 12+ months. Timeframe can be impacted by factors such as available resources, quantity and quality of the literature, and expertise of the reviewers.
Question: Questions tend to have a wider scope than systematic reviews.
Research Protocol: A research protocol is highly recommended. It will help clarify and define the objectives and detail the methods involved.
Search: Conducted as time allows in order to give a broad overview. May be limited to a certain study/article type (RCT, cohort studies, reviews, grey literature etc.,). Completeness of searching determined by time or scope constraints.
PRISMA Diagram: A completed PRISMA Diagram should be included in the final review.
Selection: Influenced by an inclusion/exclusion criteria. May require additional time for the screening process to accomodate the larger volume of results due to the wider scope of the question. Studies should be grouped for the actual mapping component of the review.
Appraisal: No formal quality assessment unless appropriate. Can include a quality assessment of study bias/validity.
Synthesis: Visual synthesis can classification of the included studies. May be graphical and tabular.
Analysis: Characterize quantity and quality of literature by study design and other key features. May identify need for additional research.
