Searching for studies for inclusion in Cochrane reviews: an introduction

Article type
Year
Authors
Lefebvre C1, Coles B1
1Information Retrieval Methods Group
Abstract
Objectives: To provide Cochrane review authors with guidance on searching for studies for inclusion in a Cochrane Review.

Description: Questions to be considered will include: where to search for studies; how to search efficiently and what to do with the search results. This session is primarily aimed at Cochrane review 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 MECIR standards (Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews; methods.cochrane.org/resources). The workshop will highlight each area addressed in the Handbook chapter including: developing a search strategy using PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcomes); 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 session will include presentations, demonstrations, group discussion and practical exercises. Due to the limited availability of computer labs at the Colloquium, please note that this will NOT be a hands-on workshop.

The facilitator, Carol Lefebvre is Co-Convenor of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group (IRMG), and has led on MECIR and Handbook guidance developments.