2.4.5.2 Database translation

Searches need to be translated into more than one database and can rarely be run exactly ‘as is’. Each database/resource has its own, often proprietary, thesaurus or controlled vocabulary, and translation allows you to take full advantage of all the features of each one. When translating a search from one database to another, there are several issues to keep in mind. First, to be consistent, try to maintain the same set of keywords for each concept. The syntax for the keywords and the fields in which they are available may differ if you are searching through a different vendor or platform. Second, it is important to use the database’s thesaurus when offered to be sure that each concept is comprehensively searched in each database. Last, when switching from a subject database in one field to another, the search may need to include additional or different concepts. For example, when switching from MEDLINE to ERIC (an education database), the search may need to be altered by including health-related concepts that were not required in MEDLINE because a health focus was implied. The number of concepts combined with AND may need to be adjusted to suit the database. Too many ANDs can make the search too specific in a smaller database. The Polyglot Search Translator is a useful tool for translating search strategies across various database platforms with the correct database syntax (Clark et al. 2020).

Systematic reviews of textual evidence, narrative, expert opinion or policy require special considerations for searching due to the nature of their included evidence. Even the definition of what is text can be contested, but can include ‘stories’ from health care consumers or health care providers; expert opinion pieces; and other types of grey literature. More information about searching in these particular instances, as well as the complex definitions of textual evidence, opinion and narrative can be found in the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, Chapter 5: Systematic reviews of textual evidence: narrative, expert opinion or policy (Pearson et al. 2024).