Rayyan helps you quickly generate a PRISMA 2020 flow diagram to document your systematic review process. This article explains how to generate it, how to interpret each section, and which data is auto-populated by Rayyan versus what needs to be entered manually.
What is a PRISMA Flow Diagram?
A PRISMA flow diagram is a visual summary of how you selected the studies included in your systematic review. It tracks the journey of references through four key stages:
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Identification
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Screening
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Eligibility (Full-text review)
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Included (Final studies)
Rayyan automates several parts of this process based on your screening actions. Other fields must be manually adjusted to ensure accuracy.
How to Generate and Edit a PRISMA Diagram in Rayyan
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Log in to Rayyan
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Open your review
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On the Overview tab, click the PRISMA button in the top toolbar
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The PRISMA diagram will open in a new window with values auto-filled where possible
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Use the Main Options panel to manually edit any fields
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Download your diagram (PDF, PNG, SVG) once you're done
Note: Manual changes are not auto-saved — download the diagram to save your work before closing the window.
Understanding Each PRISMA Section and How Rayyan Handles It
Here’s a breakdown of each PRISMA field, what it represents, and whether Rayyan fills it automatically or needs your input.
🔹 Identification Section
| Field | Description | Auto-filled in Rayyan? |
|---|---|---|
| Databases (n = X) | Number of records identified through database searches (e.g., PubMed, Embase) | ❌ You must manually enter this. Rayyan does not currently store the origin database. |
| Registers (n = X) | Records from trial registries like ClinicalTrials.gov | ❌ Manually entered |
| Duplicate records removed | Number of duplicate references automatically detected and removed | ✅ Rayyan auto-fills this from your duplicate removal actions |
| Marked ineligible by automation tools | Records excluded by AI or external tools | ❌ Not supported in Rayyan |
| Removed for other reasons | Records removed before screening for other reasons (e.g., language, incomplete metadata) | ❌ Rayyan doesn’t track this type of manual removal, so it must be entered manually |
🔹 Screening Section
| Field | Description | Auto-filled in Rayyan? |
|---|---|---|
| Records screened | Total number of references screened at title/abstract level | ✅ Auto-filled based on articles available after duplicate removal |
| Records excluded | Number of articles excluded during title/abstract screening | ✅ Auto-filled based on exclusion decisions |
| Reports sought for retrieval | Articles moved to full-text screening | ✅ Auto-filled based on articles added to the FTS stage |
| Reports not retrieved | Articles you couldn’t access for full-text screening | ❌ Must be added manually |
| Reports assessed for eligibility | Number of full-texts successfully reviewed | ❌ Manually entered |
| Reports excluded (with reasons) | Title/abstract exclusions, grouped by reason | ✅ Auto-filled based on exclusion reasons used during title/abstract screening |
🔹 Included Section
| Field | Description | Auto-filled in Rayyan? |
|---|---|---|
| New studies included in review | Number of studies that met all criteria after full-text screening | ❌ You must enter this manually |
| Reports of new included studies | Number of reports contributing to the included studies (may differ if multiple reports per study) | ❌ Manually entered |
How to Add Database Names and Search Counts
To document which databases were searched:
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In the Main Options panel, choose "Individual databases" and change it to "Included."
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Enter the number of Databases or Registers used (e.g.,
3) -
In the text box under "Specific Database Results or Specific Register Results" follow this format:
Each entry should be: Database name, number of references, followed by a semicolon.
Manual Editing Tips
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Rayyan will auto-fill only what it can detect based on your actions
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All other fields must be updated manually to reflect your review process accurately
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Manual edits are not saved automatically, so always download the diagram once you’ve finished editing
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You can export the PRISMA diagram in PDF, PNG, or SVG formats
📅 Interested in a webinar?
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🆘 Need Assistance?
Start by browsing our FAQs for quick answers. Still stuck? Submit a support request through the Help Center.
When reaching out, please include:
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The name of your review
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Steps you took before encountering the issue
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A screenshot (if available)
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