TABLE 2.
Review of single-phase tools for systematic reviews technology
| Program name and hyperlink | Phase(s) of SR supported | Key features | Limitations | Cost | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PubMed PICO | Preliminary searches | Can enter search terms in the PICO format and select ideal publication type | SRs would require details of search for reproducibility. Can only select one publication type | Free | Web-based online tool and mobile application |
| Yale MeSH Analyzer | Search strategy | Can enter PMID of relevant articles and compare common MeSH terms | Unable to save or export work | Free | Web-based online tool |
| Rayyan | Study screening (Title/Abstract & full-text phase) | Can import search files and blind decisions to reviewers, can upload PDF files and re-export files to reference managers | Must create a new “review” for each phase (ex., one for title /abstract, then one for full text) No generation of PRISMA |
Free for web-based access; offers mobile application and additional support for student, professional, team, and enterprise memberships. | Web-based online tool and mobile application |
| REDCap | Data extraction | Allows customization of data extraction forms | Time-intensive to create structure of form | Non-profit companies can join the REDCap consortium; otherwise, third-party companies offer fee-based hosting | Web-based online tool and mobile application |
| robvis | Risk of bias assessment (visualization) | Visualizing risk-of-bias assessments performed as part of a SR with common risk of bias tools | Requires customization for less common risk of bias visualizations | Free | Web-based online tool |
| Qualitative Data Analysis Software like NVivo, MaxQDA, Atlas.ti, Dedoose, etc. | Data extraction or analysis | Can create coding scheme, helpful for narrative synthesis | Challenging to capture data in figures or tables; difficult to ensure coding was correctly applied; some programs are unable to blind coding to other reviewers | Institutional or individual subscriptions | Web-based online tool or downloadable programs; some have mobile applications |
| OpenMeta[Analyst] | Meta-analysis | Can offer meta-analysis of binary and continuous data with several types of fixed and random-effects methods | Not offered in cloud version, must be downloaded | Free | Installed programs |
| Statistical Software such as R, STATA, SPSS, etc. | Meta-analysis | Commonly used statistical software can have meta-analysis packages or commands to calculate effect estimates | Cost, learning programming to operate | Institutional or individual subscriptions; R is free | Installed programs |