Select [Appraisal] from the top menu bar
Studies that you have included following full text screening under the Screening tab will appear here. To begin the critical appraisal process, select the first, non-greyed out [Start] button
For each question, you will be required to read the included study and provide an answer. After recording your answer to the question, you are able to include some additional information to support your decision by selecting [Comment]
The critical appraisal page will change depending of the type of review you have selected
Once you have provided an answer to every question, you will then be prompted for a final decision, to include or exclude this study
Click [Save] and then [Back] to return to the appraisal home page
Please note, there is no standardised rules or criteria for how final study inclusion or exclusion will occur. This will need to be discussed by the review team prior to the critical appraisal process.
Proceeding with 2 reviewers
It is a requirement of the JBI that critical appraisal of studies for inclusion in a systematic review need to be done in duplicate. Two, independent reviewers are required.
After you have completed your appraisal process you will not be able to proceed until the second reviewer has also critically appraised the same paper.
Once the second reviewer has performed their critical appraisal of the study you will then be able to begin the final appraisal process. To do this, select the final [Start] button
This will take you to the final appraisal page, here you will be able to see the appraisal results from both reviewers. If there are any discrepancies between appraisal scores these will need to be discussed between reviewers.
Based on the critical appraisal of both reviewers you can then decide, for the final time, to include or exclude this study.
Click [Save] and then [Back] to return to the appraisal home page
Proceeding with 1 reviewer
Whilst it is not recommended and not JBI policy to only undergo critical appraisal with one reviewer, JBI SUMARI does support this functionality.
After you have completed your appraisal process, you can select the final [Start] button
This will give you a prompt, confirming that you will proceed with the appraisal process with only 1 reviewer
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and chose to include or exclude the study based on the critical appraisal
Click [Save] and then [Back] to return to the appraisal home page
Please note that if users have commenced or completed appraisal and the number of required screens is changed, none of the data will be lost. The study will be greyed out until the required number of screens has been completed and then all data will be reinstated. The data will only be lost if the study is excluded from the project.
Critical appraisal