The 'Remove references reporting on non-RCTs before screening' feature in Covidence aims to reduce the number of references you need to screen manually, allowing you to prioritize effort on those more likely to be included in your review. However, it’s important to note the following:

  • Cochrane Search Filter: The Cochrane RCT search filter is a well-established method for identifying RCTs during database searches. It should continue to be used to ensure that the search is comprehensive and captures all relevant studies.

  • Extra layer of screening: The 'Remove references reporting on non-RCTs before screening' feature acts as an extra layer after the initial search has been completed using the Cochrane filter. It helps to narrow down the results by automatically tagging and excluding non-RCTs, thus streamlining the inclusion process.

  • Not a replacement for manual screening: Despite the high accuracy of the Cochrane RCT Classifier, manual screening remains crucial. 'Remove references reporting on non-RCTs before screening' in Covidence allows for references to be manually reinstated, ensuring that potentially relevant studies are not inadvertently excluded.

In summary, 'Remove references reporting on non-RCTs before screening' enhances the review process by tagging and filtering out non-RCTs, complementing but not replacing the Cochrane RCT search filter. It’s an efficiency tool, used post-search, to prioritise references likely to be included. The Cochrane search filter remains essential for comprehensive initial searches, while the Covidence automation streamlines subsequent screening.