Boosting Your Systematic Review Search: Essential Knowledge for Public Health Specialists
Going the extra mile in your systematic reviews gives you an edge and ensures you catch all the key studies. Remember that, in 2017, Bramer et al. discovered that many reviews miss out on crucial research simply because they don't cast a wide enough net.
This groundbreaking study, Optimal database combinations for literature searches in systematic reviews, sheds light on the shortcomings of previous research, focusing on the effectiveness of databases in surfacing studies in real-world scenarios. Instead of only determining if a database contains an article, this study sought to understand if the article actually appeared in the search results[1].
They analyzed 58 published reviews, uncovered 1,746 included studies from database searches, and discovered that around 17% of studies were identified in a single database, with Embase yielding the highest number of unique results. Search combinations were then tested, with the combination of Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar capturing over 98% of the relevant studies[1][2]. Impressively, this combo achieved 100% recall in 72% of cases!
If you rely solely on MEDLINE and Embase? Missing those 6% plus papers is a risk you may not want to take. Skipping either Embase or Web of Science altogether drops your odds sharply. It's clear that exploring various databases is crucial to maximizing your findings and avoiding potential omissions.
So, if your focus is on public health, specifically interventions, social determinants, or cross-sector programs, it's essential to broaden your horizons. Interdisciplinary topics like public health often have research scattered across numerous databases, making it even more crucial to expand your search strategy[1].
One key finding: Embase is invaluable when it comes to medical and public health topics, but it's not always freely accessible. Google Scholar may be harder to search precisely, but it can uncover full-text articles that other databases miss[1]. Web of Science may be overlooked, but it adds significant value. Specialized databases like PsycINFO or CINAHL are great to incorporate if your topic is a good fit, such as mental health or nursing care[1].
To maximize your search efforts, follow these practical takeaways:
- Use a minimum of four databases. Skip PubMed if you want to find as many relevant papers as possible.
- Consider your topic. Focus on behavioral health? Don't forget PsycINFO. Conducting a review on community health workers? CINAHL could be a source of hidden gems.
- Collaborate with a librarian or information specialist. A skilled searcher can make a big difference[1].
- Be transparent. Report which databases you used and why to build trust and improve replicability.
Systematic reviews are the backbone of evidence-based public health. To ensure yours make an impact, start with a smarter search strategy. Don't let your research go unnoticed – search smarter and stand out!
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