Table 3 Search strategy components commented on by MPRs and SPRs
Search Strategy Component | MPR reports (N = 21) | SPR reports (N = 8) |
|---|---|---|
Protocol registration | 2 | 0 |
Inclusion/exclusion criteria | 4 | 2 |
Sources (databases) searched | 9 | 1 |
Platforms used (for databases) | 1 | 0 |
Listing search strategy for each database | 4 | 0 |
Rational for studies being excluded from review | 2 | 2 |
MeSH terms included in search | 6 | 1 |
Textwords included in search | 4 | 2 |
Combination of MeSH and textwords | 1 | 0 |
Basic or Advanced search (in a specific database) | 3 | 0 |
Grey literature | 3 | 1 |
Term truncation | 6 | 0 |
Synonyms included in search strategy | 2 | 0 |
Phrase searching | 4 | 0 |
Reference manager used | 1 | 0 |
Screening of search results | 2 | 0 |
Date limit | 2 | 2 |
Language/geographical limits | 1 | 1 |
Sampling strategy (purposive, theoretical, comprehensive) | 3 | 0 |
PICO and other frameworks for presenting research question | 1 | 1 |
Limit by study type | 1 | 0 |
Search syntax | 1 | 0 |
Search not designed by an expert searcher | 1 | 0 |
Search not documented by an expert searcher | 1 | 0 |