The title should be clear, explicit and reflect the core elements of the review. This creates the best chance of correct indexing by databases and easy identification by interested readers. The title should explicitly state that it is on ‘diagnostic test accuracy’ and include the phrase ‘…: a systematic review protocol’. Titles should not be phrased as questions or conclusions and there should be congruency between the title, review objectives/questions and inclusion criteria.
The title should include each of the elements of the PIRD acronym (discussed below), and approximately follow the form of: “The accuracy of INDEX relative to REFERENCE for the diagnosis of DIAGNOSIS in POPULATION: a systematic review protocol of diagnostic test accuracy”
Example titles are:
“The accuracy of laboratory testing relative to viral culture for the diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1) ‘swine flu’ in people presenting with suspected flu: a systematic review protocol of diagnostic test accuracy”
“The accuracy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography relative to confirmed bile stone extraction for the diagnosis of common bile duct stones in in patients with clinical symptoms of common bile duct stones: a systematic review protocol of diagnostic test accuracy”
"The accuracy of automated semen analysis for the diagnosis of infertility in the male partner of an infertile couple relative to laboratory technician analysis: a systematic review protocol of diagnostic test accuracy”