Systematic Literature Search - Emmanuel Ekpor
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The document outlines the process of conducting systematic literature searches, focusing on defining the search objectives, data sources, search strategies, and reporting methods. It emphasizes the need for careful planning and execution to ensure comprehensive and unbiased retrieval of relevant studies. Additionally, it provides examples of keyword development using the PICo and PICO frameworks to refine search strings in databases like PubMed.
![What is the prevalence of obesity among children in Africa?
Framework Keyword
/concept
Synonyms Word variation Phrase Index term
for PubMed
Condition Obesity Obese, morbid
obesity
overweight,
etc.
Obes* = obese
and obesity
“morbid obesity” Obesity[Mesh]
Context Africa African, sub-
Saharan Africa,
SSA etc.
Afric* = Africa
and African
“sub-Saharan Africa” Africa[Mesh]
Population Children Child, infant,
pediatric, etc.
P?ediatric =
pediatric and
paediatric
Child* = child and
children
Child[Mesh]
NB: Spelling variation (?) is not applicable in PubMed](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-11-320.jpg)
![Concept Search string Records
#1 Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity OR obese OR obes* OR
“morbid obesity” OR overweight
#2 Africa[Mesh] OR Africa OR African OR Afric* OR “sub-
Saharan Africa” OR SSA
#3 Children[Mesh] OR Children OR child OR child* OR
infant OR infancy OR infan* OR pediatric
#4 #1 AND #2 AND #3
Building the search string
www.pubmed.gov
What is the prevalence of obesity among children in Africa?](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-16-320.jpg)
![Refining a search
This involves adjusting your search strategy to make it
more specific or focused, thereby improving the relevance
and quality of the search results.
• Check the correct use of keywords, relevant synonyms,
phrases “ ”, truncation * $, word variation wildcards ? #, and
Boolean operators OR,AND, NOT
• Adjust the search by using field tags such as title [ti] and
abstract [ab]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-17-320.jpg)
![Refined search strategy with filed tag [tiab] applied
Concept Search string Records
#1 Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity[tiab] OR obese[tiab] OR
obes*[tiab] OR “morbid obesity”[tiab] OR
overweight[tiab]
#2 Africa[Mesh] OR Africa[tiab] OR African[tiab] OR
Afric*[tiab] OR “sub-Saharan Africa”[tiab] OR SSA[tiab]
#3 Children[Mesh] OR Children[tiab] OR child[tiab] OR
child*[tiab] OR infant[tiab] OR infancy[tiab] OR
infan*[tiab] OR pediatric[tiab]
#4 #1 AND #2 AND #3](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-18-320.jpg)
![((Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity[tiab] OR obese[tiab] OR
obes*[tiab] OR "morbid obesity"[tiab] OR overweight[tiab])
AND (Africa[Mesh] OR Africa[tiab] OR African[tiab] OR
Afric*[tiab] OR "sub-Saharan Africa"[tiab] OR SSA[tiab])) AND
(Children[Mesh] OR Children[tiab] OR child[tiab] OR
child*[tiab] OR infant[tiab] OR infancy[tiab] OR infan*[tiab]
OR pediatric[tiab])
Alternative way of reporting the search string](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-19-320.jpg)
![Example
A systematic literature search strategy was designed by a medical librarian [JB] in consultation with the
principal investigator [EE]. The search was conducted on PubMed, MEDLINE (via Ovid), and Embase (via
Ovid), from their inception to August 2, 2022. The search strategy was guided by the CoCoPop
framework; a widely used literature search-informed strategy for systematic review of prevalence or
incidence. The framework consists of three key domains, the (Co) condition, (Co) context and (Pop)
population of study which were framed as (“obesity”), (“Africa”), and (“children”), respectively. Index
terms (.e.g. MeSH for PubMed) were blended with the keywords and their respective variations to
balance the sensitivity and specificity of the search strategy. Boolean combinations (AND, OR) were also
applied. The electronic searches were not limited to language or date. In addition to the database search,
the reference lists of the retrieved articles were systematically reviewed to identify any additional relevant
studies. The full details of the search strategy are provided in appendix 1.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/systematicsearch-240804230752-8c313408/85/Systematic-Literature-Search-Emmanuel-Ekpor-22-320.jpg)
Systematic Literature Search - Emmanuel Ekpor
- 1. Conducting Systematic Literature Searches EMMANUEL EKPOR Research coordinator Diabetes In Africa Knowledge Integration Network (DAKIN) 31 August 2024
- 2. Objectives • What the search entails • Where to search • How to search • How to manage and report the search
- 3. What is a systematic literature search? It is a well thought-out and organized search for all (nearly all) the literature published on a topic. The search process should be carefully planned and executed to ensure comprehensive and unbiased retrieval of relevant studies or information.
- 4. A systematic search is the heart of a systematic review
- 5. • Leverage knowledge of expertise • Identify previously published systematic reviews relevant to your topic and use its search strategy as a guide • Consider the availability of access to data sources Beginning the process
- 6. Sources of data • Databases • Grey literature (dissertation repositories, professional or governmental website, etc.) • Hand searching of reference list
- 7. Databases • Common Databases: PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus,Web of Science • Field-specific: PsycINFO, LitCovid, AMED - Allied and Complementary Medicine • Region-specific:AJOL, AIM
- 8. Search process Keywords /concept Synonyms Word variations Index terms String Test Refine Execute Boolean operators ‘OR’ ‘AND’
- 9. Keywords/concepts Can be identified from a well defined review question (i.e. guided by relevant framework) Review type Framework Effectiveness Population, Intervention, Comparator/s, Outcomes (PICO) Experiential (Qualitative) Population, Phenomena of Interest, Context (PICo) Prevalence and/or Incidence Condition, Context, Population (CoCoPop)
- 10. What is the prevalence of obesity among children in Africa? Identify the main concept(s) or keywords in the research question below
- 11. What is the prevalence of obesity among children in Africa? Framework Keyword /concept Synonyms Word variation Phrase Index term for PubMed Condition Obesity Obese, morbid obesity overweight, etc. Obes* = obese and obesity “morbid obesity” Obesity[Mesh] Context Africa African, sub- Saharan Africa, SSA etc. Afric* = Africa and African “sub-Saharan Africa” Africa[Mesh] Population Children Child, infant, pediatric, etc. P?ediatric = pediatric and paediatric Child* = child and children Child[Mesh] NB: Spelling variation (?) is not applicable in PubMed
- 12. Phrase and word variations • Phrases “ ” Example:“lung cancer” “chronic noncommunicable disease” • Spelling variation ? Example: O?dema will return results for odema and oedema • Variation in word endings (truncation *) Example: educat* will return results for "educate", "education", "educational", "educator", and so on. NB: Spelling variation (?) is not applicable in PubMed www.pubmed.gov
- 13. Finding the IndexTerm Index Terms www.pubmed.gov These are terms that has been indexed in a database to find records specifically related to the topic of interest.
- 14. Combine terms with OR Obesity Obese Use “OR” to combine interrelated terms or similar concepts Overweight OR OR
- 15. Combine terms with AND Obesity Children Use “AND” to combine distinct concepts Africa AND AND
- 16. Concept Search string Records #1 Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity OR obese OR obes* OR “morbid obesity” OR overweight #2 Africa[Mesh] OR Africa OR African OR Afric* OR “sub- Saharan Africa” OR SSA #3 Children[Mesh] OR Children OR child OR child* OR infant OR infancy OR infan* OR pediatric #4 #1 AND #2 AND #3 Building the search string www.pubmed.gov What is the prevalence of obesity among children in Africa?
- 17. Refining a search This involves adjusting your search strategy to make it more specific or focused, thereby improving the relevance and quality of the search results. • Check the correct use of keywords, relevant synonyms, phrases “ ”, truncation * $, word variation wildcards ? #, and Boolean operators OR,AND, NOT • Adjust the search by using field tags such as title [ti] and abstract [ab]
- 18. Refined search strategy with filed tag [tiab] applied Concept Search string Records #1 Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity[tiab] OR obese[tiab] OR obes*[tiab] OR “morbid obesity”[tiab] OR overweight[tiab] #2 Africa[Mesh] OR Africa[tiab] OR African[tiab] OR Afric*[tiab] OR “sub-Saharan Africa”[tiab] OR SSA[tiab] #3 Children[Mesh] OR Children[tiab] OR child[tiab] OR child*[tiab] OR infant[tiab] OR infancy[tiab] OR infan*[tiab] OR pediatric[tiab] #4 #1 AND #2 AND #3
- 19. ((Obesity[Mesh] OR obesity[tiab] OR obese[tiab] OR obes*[tiab] OR "morbid obesity"[tiab] OR overweight[tiab]) AND (Africa[Mesh] OR Africa[tiab] OR African[tiab] OR Afric*[tiab] OR "sub-Saharan Africa"[tiab] OR SSA[tiab])) AND (Children[Mesh] OR Children[tiab] OR child[tiab] OR child*[tiab] OR infant[tiab] OR infancy[tiab] OR infan*[tiab] OR pediatric[tiab]) Alternative way of reporting the search string
- 20. Managing the search records • Document all the search records • Download the records • Store the records in a recognizable folder
- 21. Reporting the search Method section • Where you searched • When the search was conducted • Who conducted the search (this is crucial especially if the search was conducted by a librarian or information specialist). • Keywords/concepts on which the search was built on • Was it informed by previous systematic review • Boolean operators used • What limits/filters were applied • What other supplementary search were employed (.e.g. hand search, backward and forward tracing) • Was the search updated along the line
- 22. Example A systematic literature search strategy was designed by a medical librarian [JB] in consultation with the principal investigator [EE]. The search was conducted on PubMed, MEDLINE (via Ovid), and Embase (via Ovid), from their inception to August 2, 2022. The search strategy was guided by the CoCoPop framework; a widely used literature search-informed strategy for systematic review of prevalence or incidence. The framework consists of three key domains, the (Co) condition, (Co) context and (Pop) population of study which were framed as (“obesity”), (“Africa”), and (“children”), respectively. Index terms (.e.g. MeSH for PubMed) were blended with the keywords and their respective variations to balance the sensitivity and specificity of the search strategy. Boolean combinations (AND, OR) were also applied. The electronic searches were not limited to language or date. In addition to the database search, the reference lists of the retrieved articles were systematically reviewed to identify any additional relevant studies. The full details of the search strategy are provided in appendix 1.
- 23. Result section PRISMA flow chart Records identified through database searching (PubMed=, Medline=, Embase =) Total (n=) Screening Included Eligibility Identification Additional records identified through AJOL and reference screening (n =) Records screened (n =) Duplicates removed (n =) Full-text articles assessed for eligibility (n =) Studies included in qualitative synthesis (n=) Records excluded (n =) Full-text articles excluded (n =) Reasons for exclusion • Review article (n=) • BMI misclassified/not defined (n=) • Adult participants (n=) • No prevalence data (n=) • Non-English article (n=) • Inconsistent data (n=) • No full text (n=) Studies included in meta- analysis (n=)
- 25. • Batten, J., & Brackett, A. (2021). Ensuring the rigor in systematic reviews: Part 3, the value of the search. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care, 50(2), 220–222. • Munn, Z., Stern, C., Aromataris, E., Lockwood, C., & Jordan, Z. (2018). What kind of systematic review should I conduct? A proposed typology and guidance for systematic reviewers in the medical and health sciences. BMC medical research methodology, 18(1), 5. • PubMed User Guide. Accessed July 28, 2021. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/help/ References
- 26. Trial Questions Experience of stigma among people with HIV in Africa Develop a PubMed search strategy for a study which seeks to synthesize the evidence on the: Concept Search string Records #1 #2 #3 #4 #1 AND #2 AND #3