REGISTER OF ONGOING SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
International register of ongoing systematic reviews
About the Register
The web-based register will offer free public access, be electronically searchable and open to all prospective registrants. Registration will require a minimum data set, the completeness of which will be ensured prior to registration. Once accepted, protocol details will be loaded on the database as a permanent entry and a unique identification number issued. A public audit trail for amendments and updates to the information will be available within the record. Links to resulting publications will be added. Registration will be free of charge. Details of the background and development of the register have been published in the Lancet.
CRD aims to develop, implement and manage an international web-based register of ongoing systematic reviews with health-related outcomes. To begin with the criteria for inclusion will be restricted to systematic reviews of the effects of health interventions, including diagnostic and prognostic tests, the wider determinants of health such as housing, transport, inequalities, as well as social care issues where these impact on health. Ultimately we intend to expand the scope to include all systematic revi ews with a main health outcome.
The Register will use the existing IT platform and infrastructure that supports production of the DARE, NHS EED and HTA databases. It will offer free public access, be electronically searchable and open to all prospective registrants. Registration will require provision of a minimum data set. Once accepted, the register entry and protocol for the review, if available, will be loaded as a permanent entry and a unique identification number issued. An audit trail of amendments and links to resulting publications will also form part of each record.
Each record will have a unique identification number, will be permanent, with amendments annotated and links to resulting publications added when available. The same record will be used to document future updates of the review.
As the Register develops it will provide a valuable way of assessing the risk of bias in systematic reviews, support the efficient use of funding and timely updating, thereby contributing to improved quality of systematic reviews and the decisions that rely upon them.