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BIME 540: Searching for Evidence: Home

5 Ways to Produce Effective Systematic Review Searches

1. Develop Your Search Approach

See HSL Systematic Reviews Guide, Develop Search Strategy Tab
- example: Cochrane search strategy (see appendix 1)
Select databases to search:
- Default databases to search: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).
- Depending on the topic, select additional specialty databases. See HSL Toolkits or contact Sarah or Diana for suggestions.

2. Search using combination of indexing terms and keywords

PubMed is a good place to experiment and develop your search strategy.
Use database features, e.g. filters, indexing terms, to maximize search retrieval.
Search example and tips for searching effectively.
For more information see the PubMed at the UW Guide.
After finalizing your search strategy in PubMed, translate your strategy for comparable searches of the other databases. (Contact Diana or Sarah for assistance.)

3. Document/Save your search strategy using History or MyNCBI

Copy or save exact search strategy. (In PubMed, use Advanced Search page).
Use the database's "save search" feature, e.g. MyNCBI.
Document number of citations found and years searched for each database.

4. Organize, annotate, and deduplicate citations using Citation Management Software

EndNote Web, Refworks available to UW affiliates at no charge.
Other Citation Management Software programs.

5. Contact Your HSL Liaisons for assistance

For More Information

Systematic Reviews Guide
PubMed at the UW
MyNCBI -- personal account for PubMed
EndNote Web
Citation Management Software Guides