Table 5 Evidence table on identified guidance for publishing LSRs with a narrative summary of extracted data

Publication type of new findings

Publication types

N = 9/15

• Latest findings published on website [14, 28]

• Depending on changes for the conclusion (major changes: new DOI and citation) [1]

• Interactive living evidence map and dynamic table [20]

• What’s a new table, update alert [3]

• Full review update [19]

• [21, 23, 29]]

Type of information in an update

N = 2/15

• The format of LSR publication and dissemination must accommodate its frequent updates [29]

• Date of last search, numbers of citations screened, studies awaiting inclusion [14]

Publication of review status

N = 4/15

• Regular and transparent statements [3], alerts [14]

• Monthly/daily/three monthly statements to reader about review status [3, 19]

• Status and information of the update process should be disclosed to users, and the update results should be published in a timely manner [29]

New citation & added to PubMed

N = 5/15

• DOI & citation adaption as appropriate [3, 19]

• Depending on changes for the conclusion (major changes: new doi and citation) [1, 27]

• [29]

Publication of an update

Publication frequency

N = 8/15

• Regular updating process [3]

• Trigger dependent [13, 14, 19, 22, 26, 29]

• When a certain number of new publications [28]

Specific time point of publication

N = 5/15

• Between immediately when new evidence is identified to every 4 or 6 months [3, 14, 19, 29]

• Explicit and a priori commitment to a predetermined frequency of review updating [22]

Updating trigger

N = 7/15

• Criteria-dependent (evidence dependent) [28]

• When new information is likely to impact the review conclusion [3, 14, 26]

• Independent from trigger, when new evidence is identified [19, 22, 29]

When starting living mode publication

N = 4/15

• Priority & relevance dependent [3, 19]

• Happens when the normal SR is released or this action usually occurs when the normal SR is released or updated [29]

• (1) new priority of topic, (2) inadequate evidence available, and (3) research moving quickly and emerging evidence impacting conclusion [15]

Publication of between updates information

N = 4/15

• Interactive living evidence map and dynamic table [20]

• When new evidence is included: the reader should be notified of the process [3, 14, 19]

Transition out of living mode

Time point

N = 7/15

• Evidence/trigger dependent [3, 29]

• Specific thresholds for transitioning out of a Living systematic review mode, if known. [14]

• When “enough evidence” but statistically unreasonable anymore [13, 16, 22]

• Explicit discouraged from editor/journal [21]

Transition out trigger

N = 6/15

• When no rapidly iterating and new evidence is emerging, no priority [21, 29]

• Evidence unlikely to change conclusion [3, 13, 16, 22]

Peer review updates

N = 5/15

• Peer review [3], dependent on update [14, 19]

• Depending on whether new studies are identified and if new studies are included, then evidence impacts on conclusion [1]

• Inclusion of new evidence requires editorial and optional peer review [29]

Publish authorship changes

N = 4/15

• LSR publication should have an appropriate author labeling mechanism, and all authors should conform to the ICMJE specification [14, 29]

• Transparent and appropriate contribution fulfilling authorship criteria [1, 3]

Publication of Prisma flow diagram

N = 2/15

• Should regularly be updated [3], evidence-dependent to see live progress [19]