How to search
How to search
The next step is to decide where and how you will search for evidence to answer your systematic review question.
Move through the slide deck below to learn how to search. Alternatively, download the PDF document at the bottom of this box.
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How to searchThis document is a printable version of the slide deck above.
Get started searching MEDLINE
Want to get started searching MEDLINE? This video (6:18) will introduce you to the basics.
MEDLINE is usually the first database you will search for your health systematic or scoping review. The MEDLINE search strategy is often used as the 'master' search strategy.
New features and additional recommendations: you can now also use the Term Finder to explore MeSH; check narrower headings in all thesaurus 'branches' before exploding headings; you can leave your keywords in the default .mp set of fields but it may better refine your search to specify fields e.g. .ti,ab; you can now email results to yourself or colleagues.
Easily edit searches with Ovid Search Launcher
Attention: the Ovid Search Launcher is currently not working off campus via Open Athens for complex queries. On campus access remains available. We are working with Ovid to resolve off campus issues.
Ovid Search Launcher allows you to enter your search in plain text, and run it in any UniSA-subscribed database on Ovid. The Launcher provides a quick and easy way to edit your searches while avoiding inconvenient timeouts on the Ovid platform.
Paste a plain text version of your search strategy into the search launcher, select the database you want to search from the 'Choose databases' drop down menu, and then click outside the menu to retain your selection.
Off campus users: select the OpenAthens authentication checkbox, and enter 'University of South Australia' when prompted to Find your institution. Select the option with UniSA logo.
The codes below align with the UniSA subscriptions. It is recommended to search one database at a time.
- MEDLINE - medall
- Embase - emczd
- Emcare - emcr
- PsycInfo - psyh
- JBI - jbi
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Ovid Search History Launcher
The Ovid Search History Launcher allows you to build, edit, and run searches across UniSA-subscribed databases on Ovid.
Guidelines and standards
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Cochrane Handbook, part 2, chapter 4.4: Designing search strategies
This chapter covers the aspects involved in designing search strategies, including the structure of the search strategy, balancing comprehensiveness and relevance, using controlled vocabulary and free text words, and applying search filters.
‘If the search strategy was peer reviewed, report the peer review process used and specify any tool used, such as the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) checklist.’ - PRISMA 2020 Explanation and Elaboration, p. 7
Other standards
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Overview of systematic reviewsSee the overview page (of this guide) for additional guidelines and standards.
Check your search
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PRESS (Peer-Review of Electronic Search Strategies) 2016Provides a set of recommendations concerning the information that should be used when evaluating electronic search strategies.
Learn more about searching
The following sections of this guide explore the process of systematic searching in more detail. Select the links below to go to the relevant page.