Andrea L Chapman1, Laura C Morgan, Gerald Gartlehner. 1. Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria. andrea.chapman@donau-uni.ac.at
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To minimise retrieval bias, manual literature searches are a key part of the search process of any systematic review. Considering the need to have accurate information, valid results of the manual literature search are essential to ensure scientific standards; likewise efficient approaches that minimise the amount of personnel time required to conduct a manual literature search are of great interest. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project was to determine the validity and efficiency of a new manual search method that utilises the scopus database. METHODS: We used the traditional manual search approach as the gold standard to determine the validity and efficiency of the proposed scopus method. Outcome measures included completeness of article detection and personnel time involved. Using both methods independently, we compared the results based on accuracy of the results, validity and time spent conducting the search, efficiency. RESULTS: Regarding accuracy, the scopus method identified the same studies as the traditional approach indicating its validity. In terms of efficiency, using scopus led to a time saving of 62.5% compared with the traditional approach (3 h versus 8 h). CONCLUSIONS: The scopus method can significantly improve the efficiency of manual searches and thus of systematic reviews.
BACKGROUND: To minimise retrieval bias, manual literature searches are a key part of the search process of any systematic review. Considering the need to have accurate information, valid results of the manual literature search are essential to ensure scientific standards; likewise efficient approaches that minimise the amount of personnel time required to conduct a manual literature search are of great interest. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project was to determine the validity and efficiency of a new manual search method that utilises the scopus database. METHODS: We used the traditional manual search approach as the gold standard to determine the validity and efficiency of the proposed scopus method. Outcome measures included completeness of article detection and personnel time involved. Using both methods independently, we compared the results based on accuracy of the results, validity and time spent conducting the search, efficiency. RESULTS: Regarding accuracy, the scopus method identified the same studies as the traditional approach indicating its validity. In terms of efficiency, using scopus led to a time saving of 62.5% compared with the traditional approach (3 h versus 8 h). CONCLUSIONS: The scopus method can significantly improve the efficiency of manual searches and thus of systematic reviews.
Authors: Ursula Reichenpfader; Gerald Gartlehner; Laura C Morgan; Amy Greenblatt; Barbara Nussbaumer; Richard A Hansen; Megan Van Noord; Linda Lux; Bradley N Gaynes Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Barbara Nussbaumer; Laura C Morgan; Ursula Reichenpfader; Amy Greenblatt; Richard A Hansen; Megan Van Noord; Linda Lux; Bradley N Gaynes; Gerald Gartlehner Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 5.749
Authors: Anna Glechner; Jürgen Harreiter; Gerald Gartlehner; Sonja Rohleder; Alexander Kautzky; Jaakko Tuomilehto; Megan Van Noord; Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler; Alexandra Kautzky-Willer Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2014-12-03 Impact factor: 10.122