PRISMA Flow Diagram – Free Generator

PRISMA Flow Diagram

A PRISMA flow diagram is the figure that maps how records move through a systematic review, from the total number identified in databases down to the studies finally included. It is the visual backbone of the PRISMA 2020 statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and is expected by most journals that publish reviews and meta-analyses. The diagram makes your screening process transparent and reproducible: a reader can see exactly how many records you found, how many duplicates you removed, how many you excluded at each stage, and why.

This PRISMA flow diagram generator builds that figure for you. Enter the counts from each phase of your review and the diagram is drawn instantly. As you type, the tool calculates the boxes that should follow automatically and checks that your numbers add up, so you catch arithmetic slips before a reviewer does.

What the PRISMA flow diagram tracks

The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram is organized into three phases. Identification covers the records you found, usually from bibliographic databases and trial registers, along with the records removed before screening (duplicates, records flagged by automation tools, and any removed for other reasons). Screening covers the records you reviewed by title and abstract, the records you excluded, the full-text reports you sought, and any you could not retrieve. The included phase reports the full-text reports assessed for eligibility, the reports excluded with reasons, and the final number of studies included in your synthesis.

The 2020 version of the diagram also lets you account for studies found through other methods, such as citation searching, website searches, and contact with organizations. If your review used these sources, switch on the other-methods option in the tool and a second column is added, merging into a single included total.

How the numbers are calculated

Each box in a PRISMA diagram is derived by subtraction from the box above it. Records screened equals records identified minus those removed before screening. Reports sought for retrieval equals records screened minus records excluded. Reports assessed for eligibility equals reports sought minus those not retrieved. The number of studies included equals reports assessed minus the reports excluded with reasons. Because every stage depends on the one before it, a single mistyped figure can make the whole diagram inconsistent. This tool enforces those relationships and warns you when a count is impossible, for example when the number excluded is larger than the number screened.

How to use this PRISMA flow diagram generator

Start by entering how many records you identified from databases and registers, then the number of duplicates and other records removed before screening. Add the number of records excluded at title and abstract screening, and the number of full-text reports you could not retrieve. List your exclusion reasons with their counts; you can add as many reasons as your review needs. The diagram updates with every entry. When you are satisfied, use the copy button to grab a text summary for your methods section, or download the figure as an SVG or PNG file to insert directly into your manuscript or thesis.

Why a clear PRISMA diagram matters

Journals, supervisors, and peer reviewers use the flow diagram to judge whether a review was conducted and reported rigorously. A complete, internally consistent diagram signals that your search and screening were systematic and that your results can be traced and replicated. It is one of the simplest ways to strengthen a submission and reduce the risk of revisions.

Reference

Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71.