Record one screening-log row per study: apply each eligibility criterion in a fixed order, note the first criterion that excludes the study, and cite the page or field where you checked it. This gives each inclusion decision a reproducible exclusion reason that a second reviewer can retrace.
Set the row structure first
Define the columns before screening begins: study identifier, citation, criteria in their fixed order, decision (include or exclude), first failed criterion, and the location checked (page number, table, or database field). PRISMA 2020 calls for transparent reporting of what studies were found and included, and its flow diagram depends on counts that a consistent log can supply.
Apply the criteria in order
- Open the full record and the criteria list side by side, then test the first criterion only. Record pass or fail and the exact page or field you consulted; stop at the first fail.
- If the study passes, move to the next criterion and repeat. The first failed criterion becomes the exclusion reason, so later criteria are not tested and the reason stays stable across reviewers.
- For an included study, leave the exclusion-reason field empty and log the decision as include, with the same location notes for each criterion passed.
Keep the reason reproducible
Write exclusion reasons as criterion plus evidence, for example "fails criterion 2 (population): participants were adults only, Methods p. 3." Cochrane Handbook Chapter 4 covers documenting searches and managing records for systematic reviews, which supports keeping this log alongside the search documentation. A reason that names the criterion and the checked location lets a second reviewer confirm the decision without re-reading the whole paper.
Resolve disagreements
When two reviewers log different first-failed criteria, compare the cited locations before discussing the study itself. A mismatch usually points to a criterion-order ambiguity or a missed section, and the fix belongs in the criteria list so later rows stay consistent.