Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Evidence about a specific geographic region can be required for systematic reviews that have a focus on improving health or social care in a particular location. Information professionals at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK have developed validated geographic search filters for MEDLINE and Embase (OVID platform) to retrieve evidence about the UK in systematic literature searches. These UK filters were created using best-practice principles of search filter development and they have a good balance of recall and precision.
The methods used to develop the NICE UK filters are transferable to the development of search filters for other geographic locations. The purpose of this presentation is to share the methods used to develop the NICE UK filters and to enable delegates to develop validated search filters for other geographic locations that are of interest to them.
Objectives: To explain the process of developing and validating geographic search filters.
Methods: The presentation will explain how to:
1. find a 'gold standard' set of references about a specific geographic location;
2. identify candidate search terms using frequency analysis;
3. combine search terms into a draft search filter;
4. test the draft search filter and make iterations as required;
5. validate the final version of the filter.
Anticipated results: Attendees will understand the process of developing geographic search filters.
Conclusions: Very few validated geographic search filters have been developed. To the knowledge of the authors these filters only exist for Spain, Africa, and the UK. This presentation will encourage the development of search filters for additional geographic regions.
The methods used to develop the NICE UK filters are transferable to the development of search filters for other geographic locations. The purpose of this presentation is to share the methods used to develop the NICE UK filters and to enable delegates to develop validated search filters for other geographic locations that are of interest to them.
Objectives: To explain the process of developing and validating geographic search filters.
Methods: The presentation will explain how to:
1. find a 'gold standard' set of references about a specific geographic location;
2. identify candidate search terms using frequency analysis;
3. combine search terms into a draft search filter;
4. test the draft search filter and make iterations as required;
5. validate the final version of the filter.
Anticipated results: Attendees will understand the process of developing geographic search filters.
Conclusions: Very few validated geographic search filters have been developed. To the knowledge of the authors these filters only exist for Spain, Africa, and the UK. This presentation will encourage the development of search filters for additional geographic regions.