5.2.4.2 Searching for published material

The search strategy for a JBI systematic review for narrative, opinion or policy should be conducted in three phases.

Searching stage 1: Identification of keywords and search terms

A limited search should be undertaken in major databases (such as MEDLINE) using preliminary search terms. The aim of this stage is to locate some papers relevant to the review and determine whether those papers can provide any additional keywords, indexing terms, or subject headings that may help in the search for similar papers. This is done by analysing words contained in the title, keywords, abstract and indexing list and looking for similarity of key terms across relevant/eligible studies.

Searching stage 2: Conducting the search across the specified databases

The second phase is to construct database-specific searches for each included database.

This may involve making slight modifications in the index terms entered, as each database may have differences in their index terms and subject headings. Appropriate bibliographic citation databases should be searched, the most common include major databases such as MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL and EMBASE. Details should include specification from the outset of the platform used to search a particular database. The final search strategy should use both keywords and subject headings searches. Initial search terms should be updated after searching the reference lists of relevant articles.

Searching stage 3: Reference list searching

The final phase of searching involves the review of the reference lists of all identified papers, either at full-text assessment or at appraisal stage. Additionally, researchers who are experts in the field of interest may also be considered as a potential source of articles and/or unpublished data.