141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

289786
Managing search strategies and results

Saturday, November 2, 2013 : 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Helena M. VonVille, MLS, MPH , Library, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Alicia Livinski, MPH, MLS , National Institutes of Health Library, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Standards for reporting systematic reviews are becoming more stringent although what should be included has not been fully defined. Additionally, authors are hampered by the lack of space for describing their search strategies and results by publishers who limit the number of words and/or pages of articles. This session will introduce participants to guidelines for reporting and offer suggestions for best practices. A workbook designed specifically for systematic reviews will be demonstrated. Its purpose is provide a single system for all data needed for reporting each search including: the database searched, the interface, the developer of the search, the date searched, the search strategy used, number of items found, and number of duplicates. The workbook is also designed to include non-database methods of searching such as citation tracking and searching in bibliographies of relevant articles. There are two worksheets to record the number of items excluded by eligibility criteria. Lastly, a PRISMA-styled flowchart tracks all of the data through the process. The last part of the presentation will introduce the concept of a protocol for tracking results from the beginning of the search process through the final screening of full text of articles using citation management software. This protocol is not software-specific, but rather can serve as a model regardless of the citation management software in use by the participant.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
List elements required for reporting searches and results. Demonstrate the use of an Excel workbook to track results and create a PRISMA flowchart. Describe the protocol for storing citations from the point of discovery through the screening process. Compare citation management software and describe how similarities and differences might affect the data gathering process

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have an MPH from Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine and a MLS from the University of South Florida. I have developed and taught classes at the National Institutes of Health and HHS on using citation management software, searching for public health literature, and constructing search strategies for public health practitioners. I have conducted many in depth literature searches on public health topics for HHS and NIH researchers and staff.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.