Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Systematic reviewers (SRs) of diagnostic test accuracy seek to comprehensively search for relevant studies and summarize these to present the most valid estimate of index and comparator test(s). The more resources searched, the higher the yield, and thus time and costs required to conduct a SR. Which resources should be used to identify studies for diagnostic SRs?
Objectives: To identify diagnostic SRs published in the Cochrane Library (CL) and survey of their searching details.
Methods: All records within the CL were scanned for SRs of diagnostic test accuracy. Two reviewers screened the retrieved records for potentially relevant papers and extracted details of the search methods for included studies.
Results: Thirty-six diagnostic SRs were included, Figure 1 showed that the frequency of protocols or reviews were found to increase over time. Table 1 showed that Database searched: MEDLINE being the most popular followed by EMBASE and the CL; Web of science, BIOSIS, and MEDION were searched; Other resources searched: reference sections of retrieved articles being the most popular followed by conference abstract and contacting authors or specialists in the field; reporting of language restrictions: most of diagnostic SRs were not restricted by language.
Conclusions: This investigation shows the variation in the searching element of systematic reviews of SRs of diagnostic test accuracy, the relative group should pay more attention to this.
Objectives: To identify diagnostic SRs published in the Cochrane Library (CL) and survey of their searching details.
Methods: All records within the CL were scanned for SRs of diagnostic test accuracy. Two reviewers screened the retrieved records for potentially relevant papers and extracted details of the search methods for included studies.
Results: Thirty-six diagnostic SRs were included, Figure 1 showed that the frequency of protocols or reviews were found to increase over time. Table 1 showed that Database searched: MEDLINE being the most popular followed by EMBASE and the CL; Web of science, BIOSIS, and MEDION were searched; Other resources searched: reference sections of retrieved articles being the most popular followed by conference abstract and contacting authors or specialists in the field; reporting of language restrictions: most of diagnostic SRs were not restricted by language.
Conclusions: This investigation shows the variation in the searching element of systematic reviews of SRs of diagnostic test accuracy, the relative group should pay more attention to this.
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