School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Room 403, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Implement Sci. 2010 Sep 20;5:69. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-69.
Scoping studies are an increasingly popular approach to reviewing health research evidence. In 2005, Arksey and O'Malley published the first methodological framework for conducting scoping studies. While this framework provides an excellent foundation for scoping study methodology, further clarifying and enhancing this framework will help support the consistency with which authors undertake and report scoping studies and may encourage researchers and clinicians to engage in this process.
We build upon our experiences conducting three scoping studies using the Arksey and O'Malley methodology to propose recommendations that clarify and enhance each stage of the framework. Recommendations include: clarifying and linking the purpose and research question (stage one); balancing feasibility with breadth and comprehensiveness of the scoping process (stage two); using an iterative team approach to selecting studies (stage three) and extracting data (stage four); incorporating a numerical summary and qualitative thematic analysis, reporting results, and considering the implications of study findings to policy, practice, or research (stage five); and incorporating consultation with stakeholders as a required knowledge translation component of scoping study methodology (stage six). Lastly, we propose additional considerations for scoping study methodology in order to support the advancement, application and relevance of scoping studies in health research.
Specific recommendations to clarify and enhance this methodology are outlined for each stage of the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Continued debate and development about scoping study methodology will help to maximize the usefulness and rigor of scoping study findings within healthcare research and practice.
范围综述是一种越来越受欢迎的健康研究证据综述方法。2005 年，Arksey 和 O'Malley 发布了第一个进行范围综述的方法学框架。虽然该框架为范围综述方法学提供了极好的基础，但进一步阐明和加强该框架将有助于支持作者一致地进行和报告范围综述，并可能鼓励研究人员和临床医生参与这一过程。
我们根据使用 Arksey 和 O'Malley 方法进行的三项范围综述的经验，提出了建议，以阐明和加强该框架的每个阶段。建议包括：澄清和链接目的和研究问题（第一阶段）；平衡可行性与范围综述过程的广度和全面性（第二阶段）；使用迭代团队方法选择研究（第三阶段）和提取数据（第四阶段）；纳入数字摘要和定性主题分析、报告结果，并考虑研究结果对政策、实践或研究的影响（第五阶段）；以及将与利益相关者的协商作为范围综述方法学的必要知识转化组成部分（第六阶段）。最后，我们提出了范围综述方法学的其他考虑因素，以支持范围综述在健康研究中的推进、应用和相关性。
针对 Arksey 和 O'Malley 框架的每个阶段，都详细列出了阐明和加强该方法的具体建议。持续的辩论和发展将有助于最大限度地提高范围综述在医疗保健研究和实践中的有用性和严谨性。
