Motivating authors to update systematic reviews: practical strategies from a behavioural science perspective

Systematic reviews are used by clinicians, policy makers and consumers of health care, and should provide up-to-date evidence for clinical decision making. Motivating systematic review authors to update reviews is a challenge, and despite resources such as methodologists and statisticians, many reviews are not updated in a timely manner. Conflicting clinical responsibilities, lack of funding or other essential resources, and waning interest in the review topic are potential barriers to updating. Illustrations of survey questions to elicit updating attitudes and beliefs, and conditions that make updating easier or more difficult within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, are presented. These surveys may be used to tailor interventions to assist authors with difficulties and may ultimately increase the rate of updates in the published literature.