Searching for studies for inclusion in Cochrane Reviews

Article type
Authors
Lefebvre C1, Weightman A1, Cumpston M2
1Information Retrieval Methods Group
2Cochane Editorial Unit, Australasian Cochrane Centre, Monash University, Australia
Abstract
Objectives:
To provide authors of Cochrane Reviews with guidance on searching for studies for inclusion in a Cochrane review, including where to search for studies, how to search efficiently and what to do with the search results.

Description:
This session is primarily aimed at Cochrane authors and will focus on Cochrane policy for searching for studies as described in Chapter 6 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Searching for studies) and the recently introduced Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) standards (http://methods.cochrane.org/standards). The workshop will highlight each area addressed in the Handbook chapter including: developing a search strategy using PICO; sensitivity versus precision; Boolean operators and controlled vocabulary; going beyond MEDLINE/PubMed - identification and comparison of resources; organizing and managing the search results and documenting and reporting the search process. The facilitators for this workshop are both Co-Convenors of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group and Carol Lefebvre is lead author of the Cochrane Handbook Chapter (Searching for studies) and also co-led the Searching for studies element of the MECIR initiative. The session will include presentations, demonstrations, group discussion and practical exercises. Note that this workshop will not be held in a computer lab, and will not include hands-on participation.