GUIDE 4 OF 5
Visualizing the flow: mastering PRISMA 2020 diagrams
Journals expect identification through inclusion to add up. Manual bookkeeping is how diagrams break. Either type counts into the free generator, or let screening decisions fill the same boxes.
The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram is the map of the search. High-impact journals treat a diagram that does not reconcile with the narrative methods as a reporting defect, not a formatting quibble.
Anatomy of the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram
| Stage | What you count |
|---|---|
| Identification | Records from databases/registers; records from other methods; duplicates; other removals. |
| Screening | Records screened; excluded at title/abstract; reports sought; reports not retrieved. |
| Eligibility | Reports assessed; reports excluded at full text, with reasons. |
| Included | Studies included; reports of included studies if they are not 1:1. |
Identification via PubMed (or a RIS/BibTeX/CSV library you imported) is the left-hand column. Other methods (citation chasing, websites, experts) sit separately so you do not hide hand-searching inside the database total.
Common reporting pitfalls
The diagram “breaks” when full-text exclusion reasons are missing or do not sum to the eligibility exclude box. Another frequent error: reconstructing numbers at write-up instead of counting as you screen. A third: collapsing “not retrieved” into “excluded,” which PRISMA wants kept distinct.
Use the free PRISMA 2020 generator (no signup) to type the counts you already have and export PNG or PDF.
The zero manual bookkeeping path
When screening software and the diagram share one decision log, include/exclude events update the boxes. EvidenceFlow does that inside a project: identification after import and dedup, screening from dual review, eligibility reasons from full text. You still check the figure against the manuscript; you do not re-tally a spreadsheet.
The final n in the diagram is the set you extract and pool. Continue with Guide 5: statistical synthesis.
FAQ
Do I need an account to generate a diagram?
No. The generator and PNG/PDF export run in the browser. An account is only needed if you want counts to update from screening.
Why don't my boxes add up?
Usually because full-text exclusion reasons were not counted, or duplicates were subtracted twice. Fix the source numbers; do not pad a box to make the SVG look balanced.
Is this the official PRISMA template?
It follows the PRISMA 2020 flow for new systematic reviews. Check the current statement and your journal's instructions before submission.
Core import, screening, extraction, meta-analysis, and PRISMA reporting are free. AI relevance scoring and extraction auto-fill are the paid upgrade.