Recording Search Strategies

Modified with permission from presentation by Steven Duffy Centre for Reviews & Dissemination,

University of YorkDecember 2011

All details of the search should be documented so that:

◦ It is transparent and reproducible

◦ It can be evaluated

Documenting the search

Describe in detail all searches, including:◦ Bibliographic databases◦ Internet/grey literature◦ Hand-searching◦ Contact with experts

Good practice to document the search whilst doing it rather than retrospectively!

Documenting the search

Database or resource searched Database service provider or URL Date of search Date span of search The search strategy itself, in full Number of records identified

What to record

Database or resource e.g. Medline, PubMed, CEA Registry etc

The database service provider e.g. Ovid, EBSCO, ISI Web of knowledge etc

The website/organisation providing the resource e.g. www.cearegistry.org

Database or resource searched

Date of the search

Date of the database or resource (inception to latest update)

Not always easy to find the latest update date – might have to do a bit further investigation

Dates

Ideally, reproduce the search strategy directly from the search interface (If using PubMed each search listed in Advanced area as you search, copy & paste! )

May prefer to edit strategies for consistency and/or readability

May want to annotate and provide key to symbols/commands used

The search strategy

Flow charts e.g. PRISMA flow diagram, template at:

http://www.prisma-statement.org/statement.htm

Tables

Or simply in the search strategy itself (As you search in PubMed number of ‘Items found’ are listed in Advanced area)

Number of records identified

Should not simply be a technical exercise – it is an opportunity to justify decisions made when developing the search strategy

Why certain limits were introduced Why methodological filters were not used Why particular databases were not searched

How search terms were derived

Describe the conceptual breakdown of the search

Describe search

Always write up in full (record absolutely everything) while undertaking the searches

It is often not possible to include everything in the main body of the final report, and certainly not in a journal article

But should be able to include details in appendices or at least be able to refer reader to the full search strategies

Remember...

See HTA reports, Cochrane reviews and NICE guidance evidence reports

CRD guidance http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/index_guidance.htm

Cochrane Handbookhttp://handbook.cochrane.org/

Guidance

Email: medlib@swansea.ac.uk

See Library Support Module for CoM in Blackboard

Questions?