What is the PRISMA 2020 checklist?
Short answer
PRISMA 2020 is a 27-item checklist for transparently reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It updated the original 2009 PRISMA statement to include guidance on reporting automation tools, citation searching, certainty of evidence, and an updated flow diagram. Most journals that publish systematic reviews require PRISMA-compliant reporting.
Execution Steps
- 1Download the PRISMA 2020 checklist from the official PRISMA website.
- 2Use it as a reporting template from the start of your review, not just at the end.
- 3Address each of the 27 items in your manuscript.
- 4Include the updated PRISMA 2020 flow diagram showing study identification and screening.
- 5Submit the completed checklist alongside your manuscript.
Prompt Template
Help me complete the PRISMA 2020 checklist for my systematic review on [topic]. I have [X] included studies from [databases searched].
Common Failure Points
- Using the old PRISMA 2009 checklist instead of the 2020 update
- Treating PRISMA as a quality assessment tool (it is a reporting guideline)
- Filling in the checklist at the end instead of using it throughout the review process
FAQ
Composite User Feedback
Systematic Review Author
"The step-by-step guides helped me verify all citations and choose the right quality assessment tools."
Research Integrity Officer
"The retraction checking guides are essential reading for every researcher at our institution."
Medical Librarian
"These answer pages link directly to tools and workflows — actionable, not just informational."