PRISMA Flow Diagram Generator

A PRISMA flow diagram is the study-selection reporting chart for systematic reviews and meta-analyses that shows how records moved through each stage of the review process: identification (database and register searches), screening (title and abstract review), eligibility (full-text assessment), and included (final studies in the synthesis). PRISMA stands for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and most journals that publish these study types require the diagram before acceptance. SciFig’s PRISMA diagram maker can generate labeled boxes from your screening counts and exclusion reasons; verify the structure against the template appropriate to your review.

The PRISMA 2009 diagram used a simpler study-selection layout. PRISMA 2020 provides templates for new and updated reviews, with a databases-and-registers branch and, where applicable, a separate branch for other methods such as citation searching, websites, or expert contacts. It distinguishes records, reports, and studies, and separates reports not retrieved from reports excluded after assessment. Describe the search sources and screening counts in SciFig’s PRISMA 2020 flow diagram generator, then check the generated diagram against the PRISMA 2020 template that matches your review.

Each relevant box in a PRISMA flow diagram needs a numeric count. Record the results identified from databases and registers, duplicates and other records removed before screening, records screened, and records excluded at title-and-abstract review. Next, distinguish reports sought for retrieval, reports not retrieved, reports assessed for eligibility, and assessed reports excluded with specific reasons. Finally, report the number of included studies and the reports describing them; a study can have more than one report. Supply these counts to SciFig’s PRISMA flow diagram generator and verify that the generated diagram preserves them and that the totals reconcile.

The eligibility stage includes a side box listing the primary reasons assessed full-text reports were excluded, with a count for each reason. Examples include the wrong study design, population, or comparator. In SciFig, describe each reason and count, such as "wrong study design: 12, wrong population: 4". Reports you could not obtain belong in the separate reports-not-retrieved box, rather than among reports excluded after eligibility assessment. Check the generated boxes and counts before export.

You can use SciFig’s PRISMA flow diagram maker to create a study-selection diagram for different review types. PRISMA 2020 primarily addresses systematic reviews; scoping reviews use the PRISMA-ScR extension, and other review types may have their own reporting requirements. Choose the applicable guideline or extension, provide the search sources and screening counts, and check the generated structure and terminology against the corresponding template. Edit the labels and boxes as needed before submission.

Many journals publishing systematic reviews and meta-analyses request a PRISMA flow diagram; check the current author guidance for your target journal. PRISMA 2020 checklist item 16a asks authors to describe the search and selection results, ideally using a flow diagram. SciFig’s PRISMA flow diagram generator helps turn those results into an editable systematic review flow diagram, which you should check against the applicable reporting guideline and journal requirements before adding it to your manuscript. For scoping reviews and other review types, use the relevant extension and terminology.

A polished PRISMA flow diagram depends on clear spacing, consistent box widths, restrained color, and readable exclusion labels rather than decorative styling. SciFig's PRISMA flow diagram maker helps by generating a cleaner baseline layout with even spacing and uniform box widths, so you can focus on the record counts and reporting logic instead of manually aligning boxes.