Why Is There a Mismatch Between Screening Results and Full-Text Screening (FTS)?

A mismatch between the number of articles included during screening and those appearing in Full-Text Screening (FTS) is expected behavior in Rayyan. This usually occurs due to when articles were added to FTS and how blinding works in collaborative reviews.

FTS Does Not Update Automatically

Articles are added to Full-Text Screening manually from the screening stage. Once articles are added to FTS, Rayyan does not automatically update the list if screening decisions change later.

Example:

• You add 30 included articles to FTS.

• Later, you review additional records or revise decisions and end up with 32 included articles.

• The 2 newly included articles will not be added automatically to FTS.

However, you do not need to remove anything:

• From the FTS stage, you can re-add the included articles.

• Rayyan will ignore duplicates and only add the missing articles (in this example, the 2 new ones).

Blinding Affects Which Articles Are Added (Collaborative Reviews)

In collaborative reviews, blinding impacts visibility of decisions at the time articles are added to FTS.

• When blinding is ON, reviewers screen independently.

• Decisions, labels, reasons, and notes from other collaborators are not visible.

• If one collaborator completes screening and adds articles to FTS while blinding is on, only that collaborator's included articles are added.

Even if:

• Blinding is later turned off, and

• Other collaborators complete their screening,

the FTS list will not update automatically to include those additional articles.

How to Resolve a Mismatch

To correct the FTS list:

1. Remove all articles from Full-Text Screening.

2. Ensure blinding status reflects the intended visibility (for collaborative reviews).

3. Re-add the correct set of articles from screening.

Important notes:

• Any articles already screened at the FTS stage will retain their previous full-text decisions if they are removed and re-added.

• Only the Review Owner or a member that is invited as a Collaborator can add articles to Full-Text Screening.