IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/marpol/v62y2015icp261-263.html

Beyond PRISMA: Systematic reviews to inform marine science and policy

Author

Listed:
  • O’Leary, Bethan C.
  • Bayliss, Helen R.
  • Haddaway, Neal R.

Abstract

A recent article by Sierra-Correa and Cantera Kintz published in Marine Policy 51 2015 identifies the need for systematic reviews of evidence to inform marine policy and management. To guide their review, the authors apply the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement as a methodology. We identified eighteen systematic reviews published on marine topics between 2008 and 2015. Of those which stated a methodology (N=12), 25% (N=3) applied the PRISMA Statement. PRISMA is a checklist designed by the medical community to improve reporting standards of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, rather than guidelines for their conduct. Relevant guidelines have already been produced by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. By using PRISMA as a methodology without referring to these guidelines, or worse, post hoc without conducting a full systematic review, authors may unintentionally give the impression of having undertaken a more rigorous review than is in fact the case. Given the apparent increase in systematic reviews of marine and coastal topics, it is vital that appropriate methodology be used. Authors undertaking future reviews should use existing environmental systematic review guidance to help plan and conduct their review. By following these guidelines, standards for marine reviews should increase, ultimately resulting in more rigorous reviews better able to inform future marine science and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • O’Leary, Bethan C. & Bayliss, Helen R. & Haddaway, Neal R., 2015. "Beyond PRISMA: Systematic reviews to inform marine science and policy," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 261-263.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:62:y:2015:i:c:p:261-263
    DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2015.09.026
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002778
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.09.026?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sierra-Correa, Paula Cristina & Cantera Kintz, Jaime Ricardo, 2015. "Ecosystem-based adaptation for improving coastal planning for sea-level rise: A systematic review for mangrove coasts," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 385-393.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    3. Alessandro Liberati & Douglas G Altman & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Cynthia Mulrow & Peter C Gøtzsche & John P A Ioannidis & Mike Clarke & P J Devereaux & Jos Kleijnen & David Moher, 2009. "The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-28, July.
    4. Rees, Siân & Fletcher, Stephen & Glegg, Gillian & Marshall, Charlotte & Rodwell, Lynda & Jefferson, Rebecca & Campbell, Maria & Langmead, Olivia & Ashley, Matthew & Bloomfield, Helen & Brutto, Daniel , 2013. "Priority questions to shape the marine and coastal policy research agenda in the United Kingdom," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 531-537.
    5. Christine C Shepard & Caitlin M Crain & Michael W Beck, 2011. "The Protective Role of Coastal Marshes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(11), pages 1-11, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Behrooz Shahmoradi & Abolfazl Bagheri, 2025. "Unlocking Innovation: The Economic Impact of R&D Tax Credit Policies," Journal of Tax Reform, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 11(2), pages 341-357.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Siti Nur Fatehah Radzi & Kamisah Osman & Mohd Nizam Mohd Said, 2022. "Progressing towards Global Citizenship and a Sustainable Nation: Pillars of Climate Change Education and Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Cocco, Edoardo & Hashimoto, Yuji Z. & Chopin, Julien, 2025. "Child sexual abuse in the catholic church: A scoping review of characteristics, prevalence, and explanatory factors," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Alessandro Concari & Gerjo Kok & Pim Martens, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Review of Concepts and Factors Related to Pro-Environmental Consumer Behaviour in Relation to Waste Management Through an Interdisciplinary Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-50, May.
    4. Arjun K Reddy & Jared T Scott & Grayson R Norris & Chip Moore & Jake X Checketts & Griffin K Hughes & Travis Small & Mark M Calder & Brent L Norris, 2023. "Cemented vs Uncemented hemiarthroplasties for femoral neck fractures: An overlapping systematic review and evidence appraisal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Giuseppe La Torre & Remigio Bova & Rosario Andrea Cocchiara & Cristina Sestili & Anna Tagliaferri & Simona Maggiacomo & Camilla Foschi & William Zomparelli & Maria Vittoria Manai & David Shaholli & Va, 2023. "What Are the Determinants of the Quality of Systematic Reviews in the International Journals of Occupational Medicine? A Methodological Study Review of Published Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Frank Peinemann & Ulrich Grouven & Nicolaus Kröger & Carmen Bartel & Max H Pittler & Stefan Lange, 2011. "First-Line Matched Related Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Compared to Immunosuppressive Therapy in Acquired Severe Aplastic Anemia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(4), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Jonathan Kingsley & Aisling Bailey & Nooshin Torabi & Pauline Zardo & Suzanne Mavoa & Tonia Gray & Danielle Tracey & Philip Pettitt & Nicholas Zajac & Emily Foenander, 2019. "A Systematic Review Protocol Investigating Community Gardening Impact Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    8. Yam B. Limbu & A. F. M. Jalal Ahamed, 2023. "What Influences Green Cosmetics Purchase Intention and Behavior? A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, August.
    9. repec:plo:pone00:0189091 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. repec:plo:pone00:0012792 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. S. Rajsic & H. Gothe & H. H. Borba & G. Sroczynski & J. Vujicic & T. Toell & Uwe Siebert, 2019. "Economic burden of stroke: a systematic review on post-stroke care," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 20(1), pages 107-134, February.
    12. Sibonokuhle Ndlovu, 2023. "Preparedness and Response to COVID-19 Disruptions and Learning Challenges for Students with Disabilities in South Africa: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Ogali, Oscar Ikechukwu Okoronkwo & Okoro, Emmanuel Emeka & Sanni, Samuel E. & John, Ikechukwu Theophilus & John, Chukwuemeka Benjamin, 2026. "Advancing z-factor prediction in natural gas systems using machine learning: A review of methods, challenges, and role in the global energy transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PB).
    14. Abbas Mardani & Dalia Streimikiene & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Fausto Cavallaro & Mehrbakhsh Nilashi & Ahmad Jusoh & Habib Zare, 2017. "Application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to Solve Environmental Sustainability Problems: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-65, October.
    15. Sierra-Correa, Paula Cristina & Cantera Kintz, Jaime Ricardo, 2015. "Ecosystem-based adaptation for improving coastal planning for sea-level rise: A systematic review for mangrove coasts," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 385-393.
    16. Luísa Bandeira Lopes & João Albernaz Neves & João Botelho & Vanessa Machado & José João Mendes, 2021. "Regenerative Endodontic Procedures: An Umbrella Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Hussein Khalifa Hassan Khalifa & Rosmiza binti Haji Bidin & Raihani Mohamed & Imam Mukhlis, 2025. "Prominent Theories on Social Media Analytics in Corporate Studies: A Systematic Literature Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, October.
    18. Gaspar, Rui & Yan, Zheng & Domingos, Samuel, 2019. "Extreme natural and man-made events and human adaptive responses mediated by information and communication technologies' use: A systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 125-135.
    19. Małgorzata Krzywonos & Zdzisława Romanowska-Duda & Przemysław Seruga & Beata Messyasz & Stanisław Mec, 2023. "The Use of Plants from the Lemnaceae Family for Biofuel Production—A Bibliometric and In-Depth Content Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-24, February.
    20. Nicholas A. Kirk & Nicholas A. Cradock-Henry, 2022. "Land Management Change as Adaptation to Climate and Other Stressors: A Systematic Review of Decision Contexts Using Values-Rules-Knowledge," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, May.
    21. Shiqi Lu & Zalik Nuryana & Xiaoyu Ni & Wenbin Xu & Muhammad Nazir Alias, 2025. "A decade of educational robotics: trends and SDG contributions," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    22. Timothy Noblet & John Marriott & Emma Graham-Clarke & Debra Shirley & Alison Rushton, 2018. "Clinical and cost-effectiveness of non-medical prescribing: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:62:y:2015:i:c:p:261-263. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/marpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.