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.
Learn how to search
Select the links below to learn how to conduct your search, using our real-time search tutorials:
This tutorial will demonstrate how to correctly translate your PICO breakdown into a MEDLINE search.
This tutorial demonstrates how to correctly remap your MEDLINE search to another Ovid database.
This tutorial shows you how to remap your MEDLINE search to the Cochrane Library and databases therein.
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.
Easily edit searches with Ovid Search Launcher
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 - move the position of search lines, add and remove terms, etc.
Avoid inconvenient timeouts while editing on the Ovid platform, especially if working with longer, more complex strategies.
Simply paste a plain text version of your search strategy or search history into the search launcher, and from the 'Choose databases' drop down menu select the database you want to search, and then click outside the menu to retain your selection. 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 Launcher
Use this link to access the launcher outside the UniSA network. The version of the launcher freely available online will not work offsite (even if you select Open Athens and UniSA)
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.