Elementor #1840
How to Register Your
Systematic Review on PROSPERO
A step-by-step guide for medical postgraduate students and researchers — from account creation to getting your registration number.
If you are writing a thesis or planning a systematic review, your guide or supervisor will almost certainly ask for a PROSPERO registration number. Journals increasingly require it, ethics committees ask for it, and reviewers look for it. But many students are unsure how to actually complete the registration.
This guide walks you through the entire process — what PROSPERO is, who can register, what information you need to prepare, and exactly how to fill the form and get your ID.
What is PROSPERO?
PROSPERO is an international free database maintained by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York, UK. It allows researchers to register the protocol of their systematic review before they begin — so that the methodology is publicly documented in advance, reducing bias and preventing duplicate work.
PROSPERO is a prospective register that records methodological plans for systematic reviews, allowing public comparison between what was planned and what was ultimately reported in the final publication.
— Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of YorkOnce registered, you receive a unique PROSPERO ID (e.g., CRD42024xxxxxx) that you cite in your synopsis, thesis, and any journal submission. It signals that your work is transparent and methodologically sound.
What Can (and Cannot) Be Registered?
PROSPERO only accepts certain types of reviews. Confirm your study type before starting registration.
✓ Accepted
- Systematic reviews
- Rapid reviews
- Umbrella reviews
- Reviews with health-related outcomes in humans
- Reviews in health, social care, public health, welfare, education, crime & justice
✗ Not Accepted
- Scoping reviews
- Narrative / literature reviews
- Reviews assessing sports performance only
- Reviews not involving health outcomes in humans
- Reviews where data extraction is already complete
Important: You must register before starting data extraction. PROSPERO will not accept retrospective registrations once extraction has begun.
What to Prepare Before You Start
Before opening the PROSPERO form, gather all the following. Having these ready reduces the time taken to complete registration significantly — the form can take 1–2 hours if you are not prepared.
| Information Needed | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Review title | Full descriptive title of your systematic review | Required |
| Review question (PICO/PECO) | Population, Intervention/Exposure, Comparator, Outcome | Required |
| Objectives | What the review aims to answer | Required |
| Eligibility criteria | Inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies | Required |
| Databases to be searched | e.g. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, Scopus | Required |
| Search strategy (at least 1 database) | Full MeSH/keyword search string for one database | Required |
| Primary and secondary outcomes | Clearly defined, measurable outcomes | Required |
| Data extraction approach | Tool/form to be used, who will extract | Required |
| Risk of bias tool | e.g. RoB 2, ROBINS-I, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale | Required |
| Statistical synthesis / meta-analysis plan | Software (RevMan, R), model (fixed/random effects), heterogeneity measure | If applicable |
| Funding source | Any funding or conflict of interest declaration | Optional |
| Full protocol document | Can be attached as PDF | Optional |
How to Register on PROSPERO
Follow these steps in order. The registration is entirely free. You will need an institutional or personal email address.
Create Your PROSPERO Account
Go to www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero and click "Login / Register". Select "New User" and fill in your name, email address, and institutional affiliation. You will receive a verification email — confirm it before proceeding.
Start a New Registration
After logging in, click "New systematic review" from your dashboard. This opens the multi-section registration form. You can save progress and return — the form does not need to be completed in one sitting.
Fill Section 1 — Review Details
Enter the review title, review question, and objectives. State your PICO/PECO framework clearly. This section also asks for the review type (systematic review, rapid review, etc.) and subject area (health specialty).
Fill Section 2 — Eligibility Criteria
Define inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies. Include study designs to be included (RCTs, observational studies, etc.), languages, publication dates, and participant characteristics. Be specific — vague criteria are a common reason for rejection or reviewer comments.
Fill Section 3 — Search Strategy
List all databases you will search (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, etc.). Paste at least one complete search strategy with all MeSH terms and Boolean operators. Grey literature sources (clinical trials registries, government reports) can be added here too.
Fill Section 4 — Methods
Describe how titles/abstracts will be screened, how data will be extracted, and which tool will be used for risk of bias assessment. If you plan a meta-analysis, name the software (RevMan/R/Stata) and the statistical model (fixed-effects or random-effects). State how heterogeneity (I²) will be evaluated.
Add Co-Reviewers and Supervisor
Add your guide/supervisor and any co-authors as contributors. You can assign roles: contact person, reviewer, statistician, etc. The contact person receives all correspondence from PROSPERO.
Review and Submit
Use the final review screen to check all fields are complete. Read each section once more for accuracy. When satisfied, click "Submit for publication". The form will confirm successful submission with a reference number.
Receive Your PROSPERO ID
After submission, PROSPERO assigns your record a temporary ID immediately. The record goes through an internal check and is usually published publicly within 2–4 weeks (sometimes longer if the review queue is large). Your final published ID (e.g., CRD42024xxxxxx) is the number you cite in your synopsis and thesis.
Expected Timeline
Typical Process Duration
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Register Early
Register before you start screening — not after data extraction has begun. Retrospective registrations are not accepted.
Check for Duplicates
Search PROSPERO first to ensure nobody else has already registered a systematic review on your exact topic and population.
Write the Protocol First
A complete protocol document ready before registration makes the form much faster and ensures your methods are internally consistent.
Amend Don't Delete
If your methods change after registration, update the record using the "Amend" function with a reason. Never submit a new registration for the same review.
English Required
All form fields must be in English. Your search strategy files can be in any language, but the main registration form is English only.
Use PRISMA-P Checklist
The PRISMA-P 17-item checklist ensures your protocol covers all required elements before registration — download and complete it beforehand.
How to Cite Your PROSPERO Record
In your thesis synopsis, Chapter 1, or journal submission, cite PROSPERO as follows:
[Your Name]. [Review Title]. PROSPERO [Year] CRD42024xxxxxx Available from:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024xxxxxx
In the body of the methods section, write: "This systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42024xxxxxx) prior to commencement of data extraction."
PROSPERO registration is a straightforward but important step that strengthens the credibility of your systematic review. With your protocol ready and the information listed in this guide, most researchers complete the registration in under 2 hours. The PROSPERO ID you receive becomes a permanent, citable record of your methodological transparency.
For any help with PROSPERO registration, systematic review protocols, search strategy development, or thesis writing, reach out to PubMedico — we assist postgraduate students and researchers across all medical specialties.