Evidence Opportunity Worksheet — instructions
StatMedAnalysis | Revised 6 November 2026

Open the matching CSV in a spreadsheet or text editor. Keep an untouched copy.
The first data row is a clearly labeled hypothetical example, not study data.
Delete it before entering working records. Add rows without changing headers.
Use public, hypothetical or aggregate information only; no patient identifiers.

Use one row per source searched for a proposed question. Preserve exact terms, date, coverage, relevant reviews/protocols and access constraints. An empty result is not proof of a research gap.

Field guide
- proposed question: Specify the population, intervention/exposure, comparator and outcome as relevant.
- source or database: Name both database and interface/platform, or the other source searched.
- search date: Use YYYY-MM-DD for when the search was actually executed.
- search terms: Preserve the exact executed query, fields and limits; link long queries in project notes.
- existing review or protocol: Record the review/registration identifier, scope and latest search date if known.
- relevant evidence: Describe the studies or other evidence actually located; avoid unsupported completeness claims.
- remaining gap: State the unresolved evidence need and why existing work does not answer it.
- access constraints: Record unavailable full text/data, licensing or feasibility limits.
- proceed refine or stop: Choose Proceed, Refine or Stop and provide the reason and remaining conditions.

Decision rule
Proceed only after evaluating overlap, importance, feasibility and unresolved coverage; otherwise refine or stop with reasons.

Write UNKNOWN, NOT REPORTED or NOT APPLICABLE with a reason in text fields.
Leave unresolved numeric fields empty and explain them in separate project notes;
never encode unknown values as zero. Store the source record and reviewer/date
in your project record. This planning aid is not a validated instrument.

Official guidance
https://www.cochrane.org/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-04