2.4.6 Supplementary Searches

The third step of the search involves several components of supplementary searches, explicit searching of grey literature, citation searching and handsearching. This will include searching the reference lists of any studies meeting the inclusion criteria after full-text review (seed references) for additional relevant literature. This is called backwards citation searching. Other search options that reviewers may consider include creating a search alert for continuous updates; handsearching the table of contents of prominent journals in the topic area; searching conference abstracts, theses, and trial registries for other unpublished or in-process research; contacting known authors for additional projects or data; forward citation searching of included references; and co-cited or co-citing citation searching.