Systematic search methodologies

An integral part of conducting a systematic review is the formulation of extensive searches designed to collect as much existing literature as possible on the topic of interest. Collecting the literature on a topic is akin to enrolling participants for a clinical trial and should be done with just as much precision to help reduce bias. In this section of the course, participants will learn about how to select databases and other resources to search, including identifying what databases are useful for which topics and comparing the search capabilities and contents of different sources. Once appropriate databases are selected, participants will learn how to formulate detailed search strategies, define grey literature and identify appropriate sources, evaluate existing search filters and design new search filters, and describe the rationale behind conducting rigorous searches.