Collaborate with a Librarian
Research teams should partner with a librarian to design search strategies. Librarians are experts in translating research questions into search concepts, identifying appropriate databases, developing comprehensive search strategies, translating the search strategy for each database, writing the search methodology, and creating the PRISMA flow diagram.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formally the Institute of Medicine) has issued standards for systematic review teams in the book, "Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews" including standards specifically for conducting searches:
- Standard 3.1.1: Work with a librarian or other information specialist trained in performing systematic reviews (SRs) to plan the search strategy.
- Standard 3.1.3: Use an independent librarian or other information specialist to peer review the search strategy.
- PRISMA Searching ChecklistThe PRISMA Searching Checklist describes what search details must be included in your systematic review. The checklist includes 16 reporting items, each of which is detailed with exemplar reporting and rationale.
Precision vs Sensitivity in Systematic Reviews
Searches should seek high sensitivity, which may result in relatively low precision.
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Recall (Sensitivity): The number of relevant reports identified divided by the total number of relevant reports in existence
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Precision: The number of relevant reports identified divided by the total number of reports identified.
For more info, see: Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Sensitivity versus precision (section 6.4.4) Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The Cochrane Collaboration. Available from http://handbook-5-1.cochrane.org. Accessed June 1, 2018.
Databases and Information Resources
Below is a list of the most commonly used databases. We also recommend that you consult your discipline's research guide and consult your librarian for database suggestions.
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Complete This link opens in a new window
Nursing and allied health database - Proquest Healthcare Administration Database This link opens in a new window
Healthcare administration database covering such topics such as hospitals, insurance, law, statistics, business management, personnel management, ethics, health economics, public health administration, and more. Includes full text scholarly journals and thousands of dissertations and theses. - SciFinder-n This link opens in a new window
Engineering, materials, biochemistry, synthesis & reactions, journal articles, patents, dissertations, chemical sources. - Scopus This link opens in a new window
Citation data, journal impact metrics, and journal indexing. Includes all of MEDLINE and Embase. - TRIP Pro Database This link opens in a new window
Meta search engine that focuses on evidence based practice. Includes clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, journal articles, and more.
- AHRQ - Grants On Line DatabaseGovernment documents. Divided into various searches. Each search includes Portfolio/Program, Priority Population and indication of whether it is a Recovery Act project.
- Grey Literature Report (New York Academy of Medicine)A quarterly list of gray literature documents in the field of public health.
- Grey Matters: a practical search tool for evidence-based medicineA tool for finding grey literature provided by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH).
- Health Technology Assessment (HTA) AgenciesCustom Google search that searches International Health Technology websites compiled by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and technologies in Health.
- NIH RePORTerGovernment documents. Repository of intramural and extramural NIH-funded research projects. Access publications and patents resulting from NIH funding. In addition to NIH-funded research, the system provides access to research supported by the CDC, AHRQ, HRSA, SAMHSA and the VA.
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Complete This link opens in a new windowNursing and allied health database
- SciFinder-n This link opens in a new windowEngineering, materials, biochemistry, synthesis & reactions, journal articles, patents, dissertations, chemical sources.
- Scopus This link opens in a new windowCitation data, journal impact metrics, and journal indexing. Includes all of MEDLINE and Embase.