Presenting a search strategy
Have you done a structured search related to a literature review or other work? Do you need to present how you found the articles you selected? Are you thinking about how you can present articles that you have found alongside the search, for example via a reference list to another article? Here you can see what information should be included in a search strategy presentation, and some examples of what it might look like.
What should be included in a search strategy presentation?
How can you present your search strategy?
- Strive to be as transparent as possible, it should preferably be possible for someone else to repeat your search and get the same result.
- In the methods section you describe how you did: if you did test searches, how you found search words, if you searched with both free-text words and controlled subject headings.
- In the method section, you can also describe and report articles that you have found in other ways than via the database search, for example if you have found articles via a reference list to another article or by manual search.
- The complete search strategy is usually also presented in table form. The table can be added as an appendix to the work.
- In order for you to be able to present your search strategy, it is important that you save the search you have made, in some way. A tip is to cut and paste from the database's "Search history".
- It is also possible to create an account in the databases to save searches.
What should a search strategy presentation contain?
- The name of the database
- The date you did the search
- Which search terms you have used
- How you searched (quotes, especially fields, truncations, etc.)
- How you have combined your search terms
- If you have used any filter, or restriction (language, year, etc.)
Example of text in the methods section
The searches were conducted during June 2018 in the databases CINAHL, Web of Science and PubMed.
The Mesh terms identified for the PubMed search were adapted to corresponding terms in CINAHL. Every individual search term was supplemented with relevant free text terms. When appropriate, the free text terms have been truncated in order to include alternative word endings.
The search result was limited to articles that were written in English as well as articles published during the last ten years. The full search strategy is included as an appendix.
The database searches were complemented with manual review of the reference lists of relevant articles, which resulted in a few additional articles included in the study.
Examples from different databases
In the tables below we present searches in three different databases. In all databases we have used the topic "Patients' experience of day surgery".
Example from CINAHL
MH = Exact Subject Heading
| Database: CINAHL Date: 2018-06-19 | Search words | Limits (filter, limits, refine) | Number of records |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | (MH "Ambulatory Surgery") | 4,779 | |
| #2 | day surgery OR outpatient surgery | 21,915 | |
| #3 | #1 OR #2 | 24,192 | |
| #4 | (MH "Patient Satisfaction") | 31,751 | |
| #5 | experience* OR perception* OR perspective* OR view* | 400,029 | |
| #6 | #4 OR #5 | 423,007 | |
| #7 | (MH "Qualitative Studies+") | 96,010 | |
| #8 | interview* OR focus group* | 123,967 | |
| #9 | #7 OR #8 | 176,718 | |
| #10 | #3 AND #6 AND #9 | 341 | |
| #11 | #10 | Peer Reviewed Published Date: 2008-2018 Narrowed by Language: -English | 219 |
Example from PubMed
| Database: PubMed Date: 18-03-04 | Search words | Limits (filter, limits, refine) | Number of records |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ambulatory Surgical Procedures OR day surgery OR outpatient surgery | 165,477 | |
| #2 | Patient Satisfaction OR experience* OR perception* OR perspective OR view | 1,914,604 | |
| #3 | Qualitative Research OR interview* OR focus group* | 435,017 | |
| #4 | #1 AND #2 AND #3 | 903 | |
| #5 | #4 | Publication dates: 2008-2018 English language | 483 |
Example from Web of Science
| Database: Web of Science Dat: 2018-06-19 | Search words | Limits (filter, limits, refine) | Number of records |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | TOPIC: ("ambulatory surgery" OR "day surgery" OR "outpatient surgery") | 5,830 | |
| #2 | TOPIC: ("patient satisfaction" OR experience* OR perception* OR perspective* OR view*) | 3,334,801 | |
| #3 | TOPIC: (qualitative OR interview* OR "focus group*") | 735,303 | |
| #4 | #1 AND #2 AND #3 | 105 | |
| #5 | #4 | Refined by: LANGUAGES: (ENGLISH) AND PUBLICATION YEARS: (2018 OR 2017 OR 2016 OR 2015 OR 2014 OR 2013 OR 2012 OR 2011 OR 2010 OR 2009 OR 2008) | 74 |
Support
Guide for students: Structured literature reviews
A step-by-step guide aimed at Master's students undertaking a structured literature review as part of their Master's thesis. In this guide we will go through the different steps of a structured literature review and provide tips on how to make your search strategy more structured and extensive.
Learn more
- How to conduct a systematic review
- Chapter 4 about Literature searching in the book Assessment of methods in health care - a handbook from the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services.
If you would like us to get back to you, please submit your contact information in the form below along with your feeback.