Issues to consider when creating a systematic review search:
- All concepts are included in the strategy
- All appropriate subject headings are used
- Appropriate use of explosion
- Appropriate use of subheadings and floating subheadings
- Use of natural language (text words) in addition to controlled vocabulary terms
- Use of appropriate synonyms, acronyms, etc.
- Truncation and spelling variation as appropriate
- Appropriate use of limits such as language, years, etc.
- Field searching, publication type, author, etc.
- Boolean operators used appropriately
- Line errors: when searches are combined using line numbers, be sure the numbers refer to the searches intended
- Check indexing of relevant articles
- Search strategy adapted as needed for multiple databases
Adapted from UTA Systematic Review Guide: Step 2. Systematic Searching https://libguides.uta.edu/systematicreviews/searching
