Citation for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Reporting
The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement published in the Annals of Internal Medicine provides the comprehensive framework for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including detailed guidance on study selection, data extraction, and presentation of results 1.
Core Citation Standards
For Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
The PRISMA Statement (2009) serves as the primary methodological guideline for reporting systematic reviews, requiring flow diagrams showing study selection, detailed study characteristics tables, and transparent reporting of all included studies with full citations 1.
Authors must provide citations for each included study regardless of publication status, making it easier for readers to retrieve relevant publications and verify extracted data 1.
Study-level characteristics should be presented in tabular format (using the PICOS framework: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design) to ensure all pertinent items are addressed and missing information is clearly indicated 1.
Evidence Classification Systems
Different guideline organizations use varying citation and evidence grading systems:
ASA guidelines classify evidence as Category A (randomized controlled trials) or Category B (observational studies), with further subdivision into levels 1-4 based on the number and quality of studies available 1.
British Association of Dermatologists uses a grading system from A (meta-analyses and systematic reviews of RCTs) through D (expert opinion), with specific notation for Good Practice Points (GPP) based on guideline development group experience 1.
Citation Accuracy and Integrity
Proper citation is essential to prevent dissemination of false data through inadequate or uncritical citation chains 2.
Citations must be accurate, complete, and consistently applied throughout the manuscript, with authors critically evaluating referenced data rather than perpetuating unverified claims 2, 3.
Data availability statements containing links to repositories (via URL or permanent identifier) are associated with up to 25.36% higher citation impact compared to statements without such links 4.
Practical Citation Formats
Biomedical publications predominantly use Vancouver style, Harvard style, PubMed style, ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journals Editors), or APA formats 3.
The Vancouver style, adopted by the ICMJE in 1979 and used by over 300 international biomedical journals, provides uniform technical requirements for manuscript preparation and citation 3.
Search and Retrieval Methods
PubMed/MEDLINE database contains over 12 million bibliographic citations from more than 4,600 international biomedical journals, accessible free via www.pubmed.gov 5.
Effective literature searches require use of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) controlled vocabulary and appropriate study design filters (e.g., cohort studies, case-control studies for etiology questions) 5.