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Abstract
Background: The number and type of electronic databases used for literature retrieval in decision-making procedures in health care is a subject under discussion. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, IQWiG), conducted a systematic review on negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) as well as non-randomised studies (NRSs) on NPWT were eligible for inclusion.
Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to retrospectively assess the contribution of the different bibliographic databases screened to the study pool on NPWT.
Methods: A multi-source search was performed in the commonly used bibliographic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. CINAHL, the database for nursing and allied health literature, was also screened. All databases were searched from inception to May 2005. A search update was conducted in December 2006. Only full-text publications were considered.
Results: The literature search identified 26 relevant studies (10 RCTs and 16 NRSs). All 10 RCTs were identified in the Cochrane database (MEDLINE: 9, EMBASE: 8; CINAHL: 3). A total of 13 NRSs were identified in MEDLINE (EMBASE: 11, Cochrane: 6). Only 6 NRSs were found in CINAHL; however, 2 of these studies were unique.
Conclusions: The results confirm that the Cochrane database is best suited to identify RCTs. The nursing database CINAHL may be helpful to identify additional non-randomised studies on topics such as NPWT, which are not only medical but also nursing interventions.
Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to retrospectively assess the contribution of the different bibliographic databases screened to the study pool on NPWT.
Methods: A multi-source search was performed in the commonly used bibliographic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. CINAHL, the database for nursing and allied health literature, was also screened. All databases were searched from inception to May 2005. A search update was conducted in December 2006. Only full-text publications were considered.
Results: The literature search identified 26 relevant studies (10 RCTs and 16 NRSs). All 10 RCTs were identified in the Cochrane database (MEDLINE: 9, EMBASE: 8; CINAHL: 3). A total of 13 NRSs were identified in MEDLINE (EMBASE: 11, Cochrane: 6). Only 6 NRSs were found in CINAHL; however, 2 of these studies were unique.
Conclusions: The results confirm that the Cochrane database is best suited to identify RCTs. The nursing database CINAHL may be helpful to identify additional non-randomised studies on topics such as NPWT, which are not only medical but also nursing interventions.