Record the rerun by logging its date, the databases searched, the exact strategies used, and every newly retrieved record, then report it transparently and revise the eligibility decisions and flow diagram if new studies qualify.
PRISMA 2020 calls for transparent reporting of the methods used and the studies found and included, and the Cochrane Handbook describes documenting searches and managing records as part of the review process. A rerun log should capture the same elements as the original search so a reader can see what changed.
- Fix the rerun date and the new cutoff. Write down the day the rerun was executed and the date range it covers, so the gap between the original cutoff and the rerun is explicit.
- Reuse and save the exact strategies. Record each database, the full strategy as run (terms, field tags, filters), and the number of results returned. In PubMed, field tags, filters, and saved searches help you reproduce and document a strategy.
- Export and deduplicate the new records. Keep the newly retrieved records as a separate set, then remove duplicates against the original set and log how many were removed.
- Screen the new records against your eligibility criteria. Record include/exclude decisions for each new record and note whether any newly eligible study changes the included set.
- Update the flow diagram and report. If new studies enter the review, adjust the identification and screening counts in the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and describe the rerun in the methods and results.
Keep the rerun log alongside the original search documentation so the two can be compared. When a new record is ambiguous, mark it as unresolved and record the specific criterion or full text needed to decide it.