Journal policy
Data, Code and Reproducibility Policy
Evidence syntheses should make searches, selection decisions, extracted data, appraisal records and analytic code available whenever ethically and legally possible.
Required transparency
- Complete search strategies for every database and registry.
- Study-selection counts and reasons for full-text exclusion.
- Data-extraction fields and extracted analytic data.
- Risk-of-bias judgments and supporting explanations.
- GRADE or CERQual profiles where used.
- Analysis code, software and version information for quantitative synthesis.
- A data and code availability statement, including justified restrictions.
Repositories and restrictions
Authors should use a stable public or institutional repository where possible. Restrictions must be specific and justified by privacy, contractual, ethical, legal or third-party rights rather than general preference. Editors and reviewers may request confidential access for verification.
Questions or concerns
Use the appropriate secure route when a matter requires a documented response.