Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Searching exhaustively, as is necessary for systematic reviews, can be very time consuming for both librarians and researchers. Selecting the search terms (balancing sensitivity and specificity) and translating queries between databases is challenging.
Objectives: A method was developed for translating a research question into optimal queries in several databases, but are the results good enough, and what are the success factors?
Methods: In order to guarantee term completeness an optimization technique was developed. This method easily identifies missed relevant terms. Macros in MS Word have been developed to convert syntax automatically between databases and interfaces. Information specialists have used these methods to create searches for systematic reviews. Many parameters of the search are recorded in the process, and after completion of the review, the included references are checked for database coverage and retrieval.
Results: Over 425 searches have been tracked. For more than 30 of these the development of the optimization process, and for more than 100 searches, the relevant articles have been chosen by the reviewers. The parameters and outcomes of these searches is compared to data from published reviews from other Dutch University Medical Libraries.
Ninety per cent of the searches performed with this method by one of the authors were completed within two hours. The median time needed was 70 minutes. Still, the searches are longer than the comparative data, use more databases, retrieve more relevant references, and have a higher precision.
Conclusions: The information retrieval process can be shortened, without loss of quality. This allows us to assist many more review projects than was possible with conventional methods, increasing the overall quality of our institutes' scientific research.
Objectives: A method was developed for translating a research question into optimal queries in several databases, but are the results good enough, and what are the success factors?
Methods: In order to guarantee term completeness an optimization technique was developed. This method easily identifies missed relevant terms. Macros in MS Word have been developed to convert syntax automatically between databases and interfaces. Information specialists have used these methods to create searches for systematic reviews. Many parameters of the search are recorded in the process, and after completion of the review, the included references are checked for database coverage and retrieval.
Results: Over 425 searches have been tracked. For more than 30 of these the development of the optimization process, and for more than 100 searches, the relevant articles have been chosen by the reviewers. The parameters and outcomes of these searches is compared to data from published reviews from other Dutch University Medical Libraries.
Ninety per cent of the searches performed with this method by one of the authors were completed within two hours. The median time needed was 70 minutes. Still, the searches are longer than the comparative data, use more databases, retrieve more relevant references, and have a higher precision.
Conclusions: The information retrieval process can be shortened, without loss of quality. This allows us to assist many more review projects than was possible with conventional methods, increasing the overall quality of our institutes' scientific research.