LibAnswers: Library answers

There are multiple ways of searching for Systematic Reviews in Health and Medicine, and if you are producing a systematic review the first step is always to search for previously published reviews. This will ensure that you are producing a unique work, provide similar reviews you can read for guidance on methodology and also retrieve older but very similar reviews you can update.

A basic strategy for searching for Systematic Reviews

• In the database you are searching (For example MEDLINE Complete), use the search string (your search terms) AND ("systematic review" OR metaanalysis OR "meta-analysis" OR "meta analysis") to find any published systematic reviews. You can also add "Rapid Review*" OR "umbrella review*" if you wish to include these. 

• Secondly search through Trip Database.  On the right hand side you can filter your results to Systematic Reviews. If you log in via the university VPN, you also get the pro subscription with better retrieval of systematic reviews.

• Always recommended is a search through Cochrane Library. The earlier methods usually retrieve most systematic reviews including Cochrane, but you may retrieve a very recently produced systematic review that may not be indexed in MEDLINE or TRIP.

• You may also wish to search for prospective Systematic Reviews not yet completed, and this is achieved through a PROSPERO search 

This should provide adequate recall of Systematic Reviews. Please contact the Faculty Librarian team for any further advice on literature searching.