When perfoming a systematic review (SR) search your search strategy is broad (high sensitivity). Results vary between 2000-8000 references and only about 5% will be useful for your research question. If you do not have around 1 – 2 years for an SR, there are other options, like e.g. a Rapid review or a Review of Literature.
The Cochrane Handbook recommends searching in Embase (if possible), Medline and Cochrane CENTRAL. Bramer 2017 adds Web of Science and Google Scholar to the list.
Light support includes:
Send your PICO, including your search strings per database. Please mention which database you are going to use and through which provider: e.g. Embase via Embase.com or Embase via Ovid.
- Reviewing and suggestions concerning the syntax of your search strings.
Basic support includes:
Send your PICO, including your search strings per database, including 5 articles that you want to find. Please mention which database you are going to use and through which provider: e.g. Embase via Embase.com or Embase via Ovid.
- Reviewing and suggestions concerning the syntax of your search strings.
- Reviewing and suggestions concerning the index terms and title/abstract terms.
Expert support includes*:
Together we will make a search string in the database of your choice. Send your PICO and include 5 articles that you want to find.
- Composing a search string together during an online appointment.
- Translation of the search string to the syntax of other databases.
- Deduplication of the search results.
- You will receive a Word document with the results per database, before and after deduplication including the search strings that were used.
- The references can be sent either as a RIS or as an EndNote enlx file.
*Due to licensing and copyright law I am not allowed to have a subscription to the different databases (except PubMed) and sell the references. There are 3 work arounds:
1. A temporary log in to your institute to access the database(s), or
2. During the online appointment we choose the relevant index and title/abstract terms. You copy and paste these into a Word document, which you send to me. I will translate it into the different search syntaxes. You then copy and paste the search into the database and send the results to me. I will deduplicate the references for you and then send the results including the Word document back to you.
3. I travel to the nearest institute which has access to the database(s). This adds at least 2 hours. Maybe more, if there are changes to the search string afterwards.
Price
€13,75 per 15 minutes (21% VAT excluded).
[Check with your institutional library/information specialist first. Their help is usually free. ?]