Guides: Systematic Reviews: Documenting the Search Process

Documenting the Search Process

Systematic review searches must be documented in sufficient detail to allow others to be able to assess the thoroughness of the search. You will need to keep track of:

Each database searched, together with the platform searched via (eg. Web of Knowledge Medline; PsycINFO; Web of Science)
The date each search was conducted
Subject headings and keywords used - including whether terms were exploded, truncated, etc
Search history, including the combination of terms
Number of results retrieved for each search and combination
Total number of records
Duplicates identified
Numbers pre-screening and post-screening

In addition, all searches conducted via handsearching must identify the source (name of journal, conference proceedings, etc), plus the years.

It is common use a flow-chart or similar diagram to illustrate this process. This can be generated using the PRISMA flow diagram available from the box below.

Systematic Search Flowchart
Here is a suggested work flow to guide you through the steps of conducting a systematic review search and documenting the process using PRISMA.

Guides to Documenting the Search Process

Cochrane Handbook: Section 6.6 - Documenting and reporting the search process
"The search process needs to be documented in enough detail throughout the process to ensure that it can be reported correctly in the review, to the extent that ll the searches of all the databases are reproducible" (Cochrane Handbook, 2008, p. 144)

PRISMA stands for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. It is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. It is an evolving document that is subject to change periodically as new evidence emerges. In fact, the PRISMA Statement is an update and expansion of the now-out dated QUOROM Statement. This website contains the current definitive version of the PRISMA Statement. Cite this (or one of the other) published statements in your research.