Search filters

Elly O’Brien, Information Resources Librarian, The Royal College of Surgeons of England

What are search filters?

A collection of search terms to identify an aspect within a topice.g. study type, population

Designed to be repeated

Can be optimised for sensitivity etc

What are search filters?

1. randomized controlled trial [pt]2. controlled clinical trial[pt]3. randomized [tiab] 4. placebo [tiab] 5. clinical trials as topic [mesh: noexp] 6. randomly [tiab] 7. trial [ti]8. #1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4 OR #5 OR #6 OR #79. animals [mh] NOT humans [mh]10. #8 NOT #9

Source: Lefebvre C, Manheimer E, Glanville J. Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomized trials in MEDLINE: sensitivity- and precision-maximizing version (2008 revision); PubMed format. In: Higgins JPT, Green S, editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Version 5.0.2 [updated September 2009]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2009. Available at: http://www.cochrane-handbook.org/

Why use search filters?

To focus a broad search in a systematic way

Instead of built-in limits

e.g. PubMed Systematic Review limit

How search filters are created

Identify suitable terms (asking experts, extracting terms from papers)

Design search strategy (combine search terms)

Test search strategy (gold standard)

Where to find search filters

Don’t reinvent the wheel!

Where to find search filters

InterTASC Search Filter Resource

High quality search filters from various sources

Search filters for different study types and database interfaces

Resources for critical appraisal of search filters N.B. Not all search filters are freely available http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/intertasc/

Where to find search filters

SIGN search filters

High quality (used for SIGN guidance) Variety of filters for different databases All freely available http://

www.sign.ac.uk/methodology/filters.html

Summary

Search filters are search terms that focus broad searches on a particular aspect or topic

They are tested and designed to be repeatable

High quality search filters are freely available

Questions?

With thanks and recognition to Carol Lefebvre (UK Cochrane Centre) and Julie Glanville (York Health Economics

Consortium)