Scoping Reviews

In a systematic search, you will need to keep the search as similar as possible between different databases. In practice, you should only need to change a few things for each database:

• Applying consistent search limiters to each database
• Searching the same fields in each database
• Applying the controlled vocabulary of each database

As experts in database searching, librarians can help you translate your search string between different databases.

After the search strategy is developed, the search is translated and run in the identified databases and search engines. 

The results from each resource is transferred to a separate dated file in the citation manager.

The team members then perform a blind screen of the pilot search results.

The purpose of the pilot search and screen are to: 

• Ensure sensitivity and specificity of search strategy
• Provide feedback for necessary refinement of search strategy
• Ensure consistency among screeners for inclusion/exclusion criteria

Information Sources and Methods

• Database name
• Date of search and searcher's name
• Study registries searches
• Grey literature sources searched
• Any other method used to find additional information, such as searching specific journals or citation chasing from specific articles

Search Strategies

• Full search strings
• Search limiters used (such as publication date range or language)
• Updates to the search (such as redoing the search at a later date or using search alerts
• Number of results retrieved from each search

Managing Records

• How search results were organized
• What reference managers or other tools were used
• How results were de-duplicated

Citation managers are tools that can help you stay organized during the searching stage of a systematic review. They can be used to

• Keep track of pilot and test searches
• Collect together all your searches from different databases
• De-deduplicate your search results