Search filters Elly O’Brien, Information Resources Librarian, The Royal College of Surgeons of...
-
Upload
carmel-hancock -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
Transcript of Search filters Elly O’Brien, Information Resources Librarian, The Royal College of Surgeons of...
Search filters
Elly O’Brien, Information Resources Librarian, The Royal College of Surgeons of England
What are search filters?
A collection of search terms to identify an aspect within a topice.g. study type, population
Designed to be repeated
Can be optimised for sensitivity etc
What are search filters?
1. randomized controlled trial [pt]2. controlled clinical trial[pt]3. randomized [tiab] 4. placebo [tiab] 5. clinical trials as topic [mesh: noexp] 6. randomly [tiab] 7. trial [ti]8. #1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4 OR #5 OR #6 OR #79. animals [mh] NOT humans [mh]10. #8 NOT #9
Source: Lefebvre C, Manheimer E, Glanville J. Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomized trials in MEDLINE: sensitivity- and precision-maximizing version (2008 revision); PubMed format. In: Higgins JPT, Green S, editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Version 5.0.2 [updated September 2009]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2009. Available at: http://www.cochrane-handbook.org/
Why use search filters?
To focus a broad search in a systematic way
Instead of built-in limits
e.g. PubMed Systematic Review limit
How search filters are created
Identify suitable terms (asking experts, extracting terms from papers)
Design search strategy (combine search terms)
Test search strategy (gold standard)
Where to find search filters
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
Where to find search filters
InterTASC Search Filter Resource
High quality search filters from various sources
Search filters for different study types and database interfaces
Resources for critical appraisal of search filters N.B. Not all search filters are freely available http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/intertasc/
Where to find search filters
SIGN search filters
High quality (used for SIGN guidance) Variety of filters for different databases All freely available http://
www.sign.ac.uk/methodology/filters.html
Summary
Search filters are search terms that focus broad searches on a particular aspect or topic
They are tested and designed to be repeatable
High quality search filters are freely available
Questions?
With thanks and recognition to Carol Lefebvre (UK Cochrane Centre) and Julie Glanville (York Health Economics
Consortium)