Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Systematic reviews require a comprehensive search of numerous databases in order to minimise bias. MEDLINE and Embase are the most commonly searched bibliographic databases when undertaking reviews of healthcare interventions. As the overall search results for systematic reviews appear to be getting increasingly larger, it would help reduce workload if search results could be made smaller. Focusing EMTREE subject heading terms in Embase could significantly reduce the number of records retrieved.
Objectives: To investigate whether restricting EMTREE indexing terms in order to focus when searching Embase will reduce the number of records retrieved without loss of relevant studies.
Methods: Embase searches conducted in recent systematic reviews undertaken by Kleijnen Systematic Reviews will be retrospectively compared with search strategies in which the EMTREE terms have been focused. The records retrieved by the focused EMTREE search will be investigated to see if included studies identified by the original unrestricted Embase search strategy have been retrieved. The review searches under investigation will cover various subjects, such as anaphylaxis, bile acid malabsorption, and KRAS for colorectal cancer. A prospective investigation will be undertaken on a current review: medicinal cannabis.
Results: The data collected will be analysed to identify: total with and without restriction to focus, yield of included records, and Number Needed to Read (NNR) to detect relevant references.
Conclusions: The project will explore overall yield and recall of relevant included records by each approach, and whether focussing EMTREE terms can reduce screening burden without significantly impairing recall of relevant records. Reducing the number of records retrieved from systematic review searches without a loss of sensitivity will improve efficiency, save time and minimise costs.
Objectives: To investigate whether restricting EMTREE indexing terms in order to focus when searching Embase will reduce the number of records retrieved without loss of relevant studies.
Methods: Embase searches conducted in recent systematic reviews undertaken by Kleijnen Systematic Reviews will be retrospectively compared with search strategies in which the EMTREE terms have been focused. The records retrieved by the focused EMTREE search will be investigated to see if included studies identified by the original unrestricted Embase search strategy have been retrieved. The review searches under investigation will cover various subjects, such as anaphylaxis, bile acid malabsorption, and KRAS for colorectal cancer. A prospective investigation will be undertaken on a current review: medicinal cannabis.
Results: The data collected will be analysed to identify: total with and without restriction to focus, yield of included records, and Number Needed to Read (NNR) to detect relevant references.
Conclusions: The project will explore overall yield and recall of relevant included records by each approach, and whether focussing EMTREE terms can reduce screening burden without significantly impairing recall of relevant records. Reducing the number of records retrieved from systematic review searches without a loss of sensitivity will improve efficiency, save time and minimise costs.