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University of Washington Health Sciences Library

Systematic Reviews and other evidence synthesis projects

To Do during this step

  • Identify relevant controlled vocabulary and free-text terms
  • Create and test your search string in your favorite database
  • Ask a peer or librarian to check your search string
  • Translate your search string into your other databases and grey lit sources
  • Record the details of your searches

Learning Resources

Recommeded:
Systematic Searches tutorials by Yale's Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library.

This series provides guidance on the process of constructing a comprehensive search, from initial planning through grey lit and evaluating your search.

Systematic review searching: an overview of best practices & real world experiences by Rebecca Rishar, MSLS; Senior Medical Librarian, ECRI

A 1-hour comprehensive overview of the systematic review search process, including translating clinical questions into a searchable structure, selecting databases, peer review of search strategy, reporting your search, citation management, and text-mining tools.

Bramer WM, de Jonge GB, Rethlefsen ML, Mast F, Kleijnen J. A systematic approach to searching: an efficient and complete method to develop literature searches. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018;106(4):531-541. doi:10.5195/jmla.2018.283. PMID: 30271302; PMCID: PMC6148622.

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