What is a Scoping Review?

I'm currently involved in working on a "scoping review" with MHCC. These types of reviews seem to be fairly popular in some fields as a way to get an initial idea of the extent and nature of the literature on a topic, where that literature is located, how rigorous it is, and any gaps. Often a scoping review will serve as an initial step towards a more systematic review.

However, the term "scoping review" is often thrown around without a clear understanding of the methods or what's involved. One of my researcher colleagues pointed me to quite a good article that attempts to provide a methodological framework for scoping reviews, and then I found a more recent followup article that fleshes the concept out even further. If you're ever asked to work on one of these, you might find these two articles useful:

Arksey, H. and L. O'Malley (2005). "Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework." International Journal of Social Research Methodology 8(1): 19-32.
This paper focuses on scoping studies, an approach to reviewing the literature which to date has received little attention in the research methods literature. We distinguish between different types of scoping studies and indicate where these stand in relation to full systematic reviews. We outline a framework for conducting a scoping study based on our recent experiences of reviewing the literature on services for carers for people with mental health problems. Where appropriate, our approach to scoping the field is contrasted with the procedures followed in systematic reviews. We emphasize how including a consultation exercise in this sort of study may enhance the results, making them more useful to policy makers, practitioners and service users. Finally, we consider the advantages and limitations of the approach and suggest that a wider debate is called for about the role of the scoping study in relation to other types of literature reviews.

Levac, D., H. Colquhoun, et al. (2010). "Scoping studies: advancing the methodology." Implementation Science 5(1): 69.
BACKGROUND: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.

DISCUSSION: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.

SUMMARY: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.