direct_flow
Direct flow
Stata command direct_flow - Flowchart for systematic reviews and other type of studies.
The command direct_flow was created for the immediate generation of flowcharts for systematic reviews, research synthesis and other type of studies.
Authors
Rafael Leite Pacheco1,2,3, Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco1,2,5, Rachel Riera1,2
[1] Núcleo de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde, Hospital Sírio-Libanês.
[2] Núcleo de Ensino e Pesquisa em Saúde Baseada em Evidências e Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (NEP-SBEATS), Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
[3] Centro Universitário São Camilo.
[4] Laboratório de Programação e Análise de Dados (LPAD), Disciplina de Economia e Gestão em Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
[5] Universidade Metropolitana de Santos.
Contact
Feedbacks and corrections are welcome!
e-mail: rleitepacheco@hotmail.com
Downloading package
(Step 1) Type at STATA: net from https://rlpacheco.github.io/direct_flow/
(Step 2) Then type: net install direct_flow, replace
Your package will be ready for use. For details, type: net describe direct_flow
Title
direct_flow - a command for the immediate generation of flowcharts for systematic reviews, research synthesis and other type of studies
Syntax
direct_flow, model() n_databases() n_other_sources() n_duplicates() n_after_duplicates() n_first_phase() n_excluded_first_phase() n_second_phase() n_excluded_second_phase() n_awaiting_classification() n_included_reports() n_included_studies() n_included_completed() n_included_ongoing() n_included_qualitative() n_included_quantitative() language()
where,
model() specifies the flowchart model.
n_databases() specifies the number of references retrieved from eletronic databases.
n_other_sources() specifies the number of references retrieved from other sources.
n_duplicates() specifies the number of duplicates.
n_after_duplicates() specifies the number of references after the elimination of duplicates.
n_first_phase() specifies the number of records assessed in the first phase of the selection process.
n_excluded_first_phase() specifies the number of records excluded in the first phase of the selection process.
n_second_phase() specifies the number of records assessed in the second phase of the selection process.
n_excluded_second_phase() specifies the number of records excluded in the second phase of the selection process.
n_awaiting_classification() specifies the number of awaiting classification studies.
n_included_reports() specifies the number of included reports of studies.
n_included_studies() specifies the number of included studies.
n_included_completed() specifies the number of included completed studies.
n_included_ongoing() specifies the number of ongoing studies.
n_included_qualitative() specifies the number of studies included in the qualitative synthesis.
n_included_quantitative() specifies the number of studies included in the quantitative synthesis.
language() specifies the language of the flowchart.
Description and examples
There are current 11 available models in direct_flow. Models 1-7 are directed to a systematic review and models 7-10 are directed to an overview (systematic review of systematic reviews). It is impossible to change boxes, text and models in direct_flow. If you have a suggestion or want a model to be added please contact the authors (rleitepacheco@hotmail.com).
An example code for each model is presented bellow:
Models for systematic reviews
Model 1 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(1) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) n_included_completed(2) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(2) n_included_quantitative(1) language(pt)
Model 1 - English
direct_flow, model(1) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) n_included_completed(2) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(2) n_included_quantitative(1) language(en)
Model 2 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(2) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1,105) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(2) n_included_qualitative(1) n_included_quantitative(1) language(pt)
Model 2 - English
direct_flow, model(2) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1.105) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) n_included_completed(2) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(2) n_included_quantitative(1) language(en)
Model 3 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(3) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1,105) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(1) n_included_quantitative(1) language(pt)
Model 3 - English
direct_flow, model(3) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1.105) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(1) n_included_quantitative(1) language(en)
Model 4 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(4) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(1) n_included_quantitative(1) language(pt)
Model 4 - English
direct_flow, model(4) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) n_included_qualitative(1) n_included_quantitative(1) language(en)
Model 5 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(5) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 5 - English
direct_flow, model(5) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
Model 6 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(6) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 6 - English
direct_flow, model(6) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
Model 7 - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(7) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) language(pt)
Model 7 - English direct_flow, model(7) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(2) n_included_studies(2) n_included_completed(1) n_included_ongoing(1) language(en)
Models for overviews (systematic review of systematic reviews)
Model 1 Overview - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(overview_1) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 1 Overview - English
direct_flow, model(overview_1) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
Model 2 Overview - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(overview_2) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1,105) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 2 Overview - English
direct_flow, model(overview_2) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1.105) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(2) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
Model 3 Overview - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(overview_3) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1,105) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 3 Overview - English
direct_flow, model(overview_3) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_after_duplicates(1.105) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
Model 4 Overview - Portuguese
direct_flow, model(overview_4) n_databases(1,200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1,105) n_excluded_first_phase(1,100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(pt)
Model 4 Overview - English
direct_flow, model(overview_4) n_databases(1.200) n_other_sources(5) n_duplicates(100) n_first_phase(1.105) n_excluded_first_phase(1.100) n_second_phase(5) n_excluded_second_phase(1) n_awaiting_classification(1) n_included_reports(3) n_included_studies(3) language(en)
References
The flowcharts were insipired and adapted from the the models recommend by PRISMA guidelines (1) and used by Review Manager software from Cochrane (2).
1 - Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gøtzsche PC, Ioannidis JP, Clarke M, Devereaux PJ, Kleijnen J, Moher D. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ. 2009 Jul 21;339:b2700. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b2700. PMID: 19622552; PMCID: PMC2714672.
2 - Review Manager Web (RevMan Web). The Cochrane Collaboration. Available at revman.cochrane.org
Some parts of the code were inspired by the package FLOWCHART by Isaac M. E. Dodd. Available from: https://econpapers.repec.org/software/bocbocode/s458387.htm