4.2.6.3 Handsearching

Handsearching describes a method where abstracts are examined one by one within a set without using search terms (e.g. all the abstracts of the Canadian Pain Research Society or all articles published in Australian Journal of Rural Medicine). Handsearching can involve browsing the table of contents of prominent journals in the topic area, conference proceedings from a relevant professional organisation or journals which are not indexed by other sources.