The importance of incorporating grey literature evidence in occupational therapy scoping review search protocols

IF 2.1 4区医学 Q2 REHABILITATION

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Pub Date : 2025-12-01 DOI:10.1111/1440-1630.70056

Ted Brown

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Scoping reviews are being completed by occupational therapists more frequently. Many occupational therapy scoping review search protocols only focus on white peer-reviewed literature accessible from online database searches. The original intent of scoping reviews was to also include searches of grey literature, but this source of evidence is frequently overlooked. This overview aims to discuss the advantages and challenges of grey literature and provide strategies for searching, accessing, and critically appraising it.

Methods

This overview discusses the advantages and challenges of grey literature and provides strategies for searching, accessing, and critically appraising it in the context of conducting a scoping review.

Results

Searching for and sourcing grey literature can be challenging, time-consuming, costly, and labour-intensive. Determining the breadth and inclusivity of a grey literature search can also be daunting. However, there are several significant advantages to incorporating grey literature in an occupational therapy scoping review search protocol. This includes reducing the impact of positive-results publication bias, providing a balanced perspective on the available evidence, and offering more detailed information than journal literature, as grey literature reports are not restricted by publisher-enforced length limitations.

Consumer and Community Involvement

No consumer or community involvement occurred during the writing of this manuscript in part due to the nature of the article topic. Any terminology used in this manuscript also does not refer to any specific societal, community, or cultural groups.

Conclusion

Moving forwards, it is strongly recommended that occupational therapists undertaking a scoping review include both white and grey literature sources in their search protocols where appropriate. Doing so will enhance the breadth, depth, and rigour of occupational therapy scoping review outcomes.

查看原文本刊更多论文

将灰色文献证据纳入职业治疗范围审查搜索协议的重要性。

导言：范围评估是由职业治疗师更频繁地完成。许多职业治疗范围审查搜索协议只关注可从在线数据库搜索获得的白人同行评议文献。范围审查的初衷是包括灰色文献的搜索，但这一证据来源经常被忽视。本综述旨在讨论灰色文献的优势和挑战，并提供搜索、获取和批判性评价它的策略。方法：本综述讨论了灰色文献的优势和挑战，并提供了在进行范围审查的背景下进行搜索、获取和批判性评估的策略。结果：搜索和采购灰色文献可能具有挑战性，耗时，昂贵和劳动密集型。确定灰色文献检索的广度和包容性也可能令人望而生畏。然而，在职业治疗范围审查搜索方案中纳入灰色文献有几个显著的优势。这包括减少正面结果发表偏倚的影响，对现有证据提供一个平衡的视角，并提供比期刊文献更详细的信息，因为灰色文献报告不受出版商强制长度限制的限制。消费者和社区参与：在撰写本文期间没有消费者或社区参与，部分原因是文章主题的性质。本手稿中使用的任何术语也不涉及任何特定的社会、社区或文化群体。结论：展望未来，强烈建议职业治疗师进行范围审查，在适当的情况下，在他们的搜索协议中包括白色和灰色文献来源。这样做将增强职业治疗范围审查结果的广度、深度和严谨性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 医学-康复医学

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal is a leading international peer reviewed publication presenting influential, high quality innovative scholarship and research relevant to occupational therapy. The aim of the journal is to be a leader in the dissemination of scholarship and evidence to substantiate, influence and shape policy and occupational therapy practice locally and globally. The journal publishes empirical studies, theoretical papers, and reviews. Preference will be given to manuscripts that have a sound theoretical basis, methodological rigour with sufficient scope and scale to make important new contributions to the occupational therapy body of knowledge. AOTJ does not publish protocols for any study design The journal will consider multidisciplinary or interprofessional studies that include occupational therapy, occupational therapists or occupational therapy students, so long as ‘key points’ highlight the specific implications for occupational therapy, occupational therapists and/or occupational therapy students and/or consumers.