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Table 3 Summary of different inclusion scenarios on comprehensiveness and complexity of overviews

From: A decision tool to help researchers make decisions about including systematic reviews in overviews of reviews of healthcare interventions

Inclusion scenario

Impact on comprehensiveness of overviews, compared to other inclusion scenarios

Impact on complexity of overviews, compared to other inclusion scenarios

Full inclusion scenario (include all Cochrane and non-Cochrane SRs)

Most comprehensive

Most challenging

First restricted scenario (include only Cochrane SRs)

Least comprehensive

Least challenging

Second restricted scenario (include all non-overlapping SRs and select the Cochrane SR for groups of overlapping SRs)

Less comprehensive than full inclusion scenario, but often more comprehensive than first restricted scenario

Less challenging than full inclusion scenario, but often more challenging than first restricted scenario

Third restricted scenario (include all non-overlapping SRs and select the most recent SR for groups of overlapping SRs)

Less comprehensive than second restricted scenario

More challenging than second restricted scenario

Fourth restricted scenario (include all non-overlapping SRs and select the highest quality SR for groups of overlapping SRs)

Same as second restricted scenario

More challenging than second restricted scenario