How to make a PRISMA flow diagram
- Choose the template: a new or updated review, with or without other search methods.
- Identification: add each database and register with the number of records found, then the records removed before screening (duplicates, automation tools, other reasons).
- Screening: enter the records excluded at title/abstract screening, the reports that could not be retrieved, and the reports excluded at full text with a reason for each.
- Included: enter the number of included studies. The number of reports is calculated for you.
- Check and export: fix any warnings, then export a vector PDF or SVG for your manuscript, or a 600 dpi PNG for Word.
Records, reports and studies
| Term | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Record | A title and/or abstract indexed in a database or register | Identification and title/abstract screening |
| Report | A document supplying information about a study, such as an article, preprint or registry entry | Retrieval and full-text assessment |
| Study | The investigation itself; one study can have several reports | Included studies |
Common mistakes the tool catches
- Records screened not equal to records identified minus records removed.
- Reports assessed not equal to reports sought minus reports not retrieved.
- Exclusion reasons that don't add up to the number of excluded reports.
- More included studies than reports of included studies.
- In updated reviews, totals that don't equal previous plus new studies.
Draft results text
Click Results text to get a paragraph that describes the selection process with your numbers, ready to adapt for the Results section of your manuscript.
Frequently asked questions
Which PRISMA 2020 flow diagram template should I use?
Use the “new review” template unless you are updating a previously published review. Tick “Include other methods” if you also identified studies through websites, organisations, citation searching or contacting authors. Together these options cover all four official PRISMA 2020 templates.
What is the difference between records, reports and studies?
A record is a title/abstract found by a search. A report is a document (journal article, preprint, trial registry entry, thesis) that supplies information about a study. A study is the investigation itself, which may be described in several reports. PRISMA 2020 counts records at screening, reports at full-text assessment, and both studies and reports at inclusion.
Does the tool calculate the numbers for me?
Yes. Leave a box empty and it is calculated from the boxes above it, for example records screened = records identified − records removed. If you type a number that does not match, the tool shows a warning so you can find the mistake before a reviewer does.
Can I list the number of records from each database?
Yes, and PRISMA 2020 recommends it. Add each database and register with its count; the totals are calculated automatically.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server.
Do I need to cite PRISMA when I use this diagram?
The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram is distributed under a CC BY 4.0 license, so you should cite the PRISMA 2020 statement (Page et al., BMJ 2021;372:n71). The tool can print this citation under the diagram for you.
Is CleanFigure affiliated with the PRISMA group?
No. CleanFigure is an independent tool that follows the published PRISMA 2020 flow diagram templates.
The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram template is from Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71, licensed under CC BY 4.0. CleanFigure is not affiliated with the PRISMA group.