Literature Searching for Systematic Reviews

Welcome to the library guide to resources for systematic reviews! Systematic reviews are important in public health, social welfare, health sciences and a growing number of disciplines. In this guide, the focus is on important aspects related to the literature search.

For further questions, please contact;

Sue Kaczor, subject librarian for Public Health, Social Welfare and Nursing - skaczor@albany.edu

According to the Cochrane Library: "A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view aimed at minimizing bias, to produce more reliable findings to inform decision making."

• Subjects vs. keywords
• Select a few important articles
• Select databases
• Identify scope of coverage
• Identify date range
• Document, document document!

Searching Syntax

• Use truncators
• Use Boolean
• Save searches
• Use search history to combine concept blocks
• Use advanced search