ISEE LAB Instructional Modules: Covidence (Title/Abstract and Full-text Screening

PRESENTED BY Joanna Samhouri

Covidence Screening Overview

• This module guides you through Title/Abstract screening and Full-Text screening in Covidence
• Screening is a critical step in systematic and scoping reviews
• All screening decisions must align with your eligibility criteria

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What Is Covidence?

• Covidence is a web-based tool used to manage systematic review workflows
• It supports:
• Title & Abstract screening
• Full-text screening
• Conflict resolution
• PRISMA flow tracking

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Importing References into Covidence

• References are imported after database searching is complete
• Covidence accepts multiple formats (RIS, XML, EndNote)
• All sources should be imported before screening begins

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How to Import Sources

• Export search results from databases or EndNote
• Open your Covidence review
• Click Import References
• Upload the exported file
• Covidence automatically identifies and removes duplicates

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Before You Start Screening

• Confirm your review question (PICO / PEO)
• Review inclusion and exclusion criteria carefully
• Ensure all citations have been imported into Covidence
• Clarify roles with your section lead

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Entering Eligibility Criteria in Covidence

• Eligibility criteria guide all screening decisions
• Criteria should be finalized before screening begins
• Covidence allows inclusion and exclusion criteria to be entered directly
• Criteria are visible during title/abstract and full-text screening

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How to Add Eligibility Criteria

• Open your review in Covidence
• Go to Review Settings
• Navigate to the Eligibility Criteria section
• Enter clear inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Save changes before starting screening

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Title & Abstract Screening: Purpose

• Quickly remove clearly irrelevant studies
• Decisions are based only on the title and abstract
• Do not overthink – use best judgment based on criteria

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Title & Abstract Screening: How To

• Log in to Covidence and select your review
• Click on 'Title and Abstract Screening'
• Read the title and abstract carefully
• Select:
• Yes – potentially relevant
• No – does not meet criteria
• Maybe – unclear, needs full text

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Tips for Title & Abstract Screening

• When in doubt, select 'Yes' or 'Maybe'
• Do not exclude studies unless clearly ineligible
• Ignore missing details at this stage
• Stay consistent with criteria across all studies

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Moving to Full-Text Screening

• Studies included after title/abstract screening move to full-text review
• Full-text PDFs should be uploaded or linked
• This stage requires more detailed evaluation

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Full-Text Screening: How To

• Open the Full-Text Screening tab in Covidence
• Read the entire article carefully
• Compare study details against inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Select Yes or No
• If No, select the most appropriate exclusion reason

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Common Exclusion Reasons

• Wrong population
• Wrong intervention/exposure
• Wrong outcome
• Wrong study design
• Not primary research
• Not in scope of review

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Handling Conflicts

• Conflicts occur when reviewers disagree
• Covidence will flag conflicts automatically
• Discuss with your co-reviewer or section lead
• Final decisions should be documented clearly

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Best Practices for Screening

• Screen consistently and thoughtfully
• Take breaks to avoid fatigue
• Ask questions early if criteria are unclear
• Document decisions transparently

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You're Ready to Screen!

• Accurate screening ensures high-quality evidence synthesis
• Your work directly impacts the rigor of the review
• Thank you for contributing to ISEE Lab projects

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!��Q&A�

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