4.7.1      References to studies

Studies are organized under four fixed headings:

 
Included studies

Studies that specifically meet the inclusion criteria and are included in the review should be listed here.

 

Excluded studies

Studies for which reports were retrieved but were found not to meet the inclusion criteria should be listed here.

 

Studies awaiting assessment

Relevant studies that have been identified, but cannot be assessed for inclusion until additional data or information are obtained, should be listed here.  These need not be cited in the text of the review.

 

Ongoing studies

Studies that are ongoing but meet (or appear to meet) the inclusion criteria should be listed here.

 

Each of these headings can include multiple studies (or no studies).  A study is identified by a ‘Study ID’.  A year can be associated with each study (usually the year of completion, or the publication year of the primary reference to that study).  In addition, each study should be assigned a category of ‘Data source’ from among the following.

 

 

Each study can have multiple references.  Each reference has its own ‘Reference ID’.  A single reference for each study should be awarded the status of ‘Primary reference’, usually the reference that most completely reports the study.