Robin Featherstone, MLISLiaison Librarian (Medicine)Life Sciences Library
How to Conduct a Systematic Search in PubMed
How to Conduct a Systematic Search in PubMed
Genevieve Gore, MLISLiaison Librarian (Medicine)
Life Sciences LibrarySlides: http://www.slideshare.net/featherr
ObjectivesObjectives
By the end of today’s class, you will be able to:
1.Identify subject headings using the MeSH Database2.Construct a search strategy3.Run your search using the PubMed Advanced Search Builder4.Contact a librarian for help
A review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies
that are included in the review.
From: Cochrane Collaboration (2012). Glossary: Systematic Review. Accessed Jan 6, 2011: http://www.cochrane.org/glossary/5#term423
What’s a Systematic Review?What’s a Systematic Review?
From: Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 6(6): e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097
Flow of Information Through the Different Phases of a Systematic Review
Flow of Information Through the Different Phases of a Systematic Review
Systematic reviews of interventions require a thorough, objective and reproducible search of a
range of sources to identify as many relevant studies as possible (within resource limits).
From: Cochrane Handbook (2012). Section 6: Searching for Studies . Accessed Jan 9, 2011: http://www.cochrane-handbook.org/
What’s a Systematic Search?What’s a Systematic Search?
1. Develop a research question2. Develop a search strategy3. Run the search in PubMed4. Apply filters5. Export references to a citation manager
How to Find ArticlesHow to Find Articles
Develop a Research Question
You’re applying for a grant to support your research on infections in arthritis patients
Think of a question related to this topic...
ScenarioScenario
Relevancy
Retrieval(# of search results)
Broad Questions
Narrow Questions
High = lots of articles
Low = very few articles
High = directly relevant articles
Low = mostly irrelevant articles
How questions influence search resultsHow questions influence search results
Broad:• What is the prevalence of infections in arthritis
patients?
Narrow:• What is the risk of respiratory infections for
rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologics?
Very Narrow:• What is the rate of Caplan Syndrome for asbestos
workers in Northern Quebec between 1985 and 2005?
Possible QuestionsPossible Questions
Develop a Search Strategy
1. Break your question into concepts2. Identify subject headings for each concept3. Identify text words for each concept
• Tips: – Use a “target article” to help identify search terms– Use a worksheet to keep track of your terms
Step-by-StepStep-by-Step
Which concepts are contained in the question:
What is the risk of respiratory infections for rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologics?
Identify ConceptsIdentify Concepts
Develop a PICODevelop a PICO
P
I
C
O
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Biologics
Risk of respiratory infections
Population
Intervention or Exposure
Comparison
Outcome or endpoint
Type of question?
What is MeSH?
A. Bird Diseases B. Neutropenia
Which Subject Heading Explodes?Which Subject Heading Explodes?
What are MeSH headings for these concepts?
Add appropriate subject headings to your worksheet
Identify Subject HeadingsIdentify Subject Headings
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Respiratory Infection
Biologics
Find MeSH Using a Target ArticleFind MeSH Using a Target Article
AND AND
OR
"Arthritis, Rheumatoid"[Mesh:NoExp]
"Respiratory Tract Infections"[Mesh] "Biological Agents"[Mesh]
OR “Biological Therapy”[Mesh]
OR
OR
OR
Concept #1 Concept #2 Concept #3
Subject Headings
TextWords
Blank worksheets: http://www.slideshare.net/featherr/search-strategy-worksheet
Search StrategySearch Strategy
BREAK – 10 mins
Why? 1.Not all citations have subject headings2.Indexers are only humans (they make mistakes)
Next: Identify Text WordsNext: Identify Text Words
Concept #1 Concept #2 Concept #3
Subject Headings
TextWords
AND AND
OR
"Arthritis, Rheumatoid"[Mesh:NoExp]
"Respiratory Tract Infections"[Mesh]
"Biological Agents"[Mesh]
OR“Biological Therapy”[Mesh]
OR
"rheumatoid arthritis"[Title/Abstract]
“chest infection”[Title/Abstract] OR “chest infections”[Title/Abstract]
biologics[Title/Abstract]
OR
"lung infection"[Title/Abstract] OR "lung infections"[Title/Abstract]
"biological agent"[Title/Abstract] OR "biological agents"[Title/Abstract]
Search StrategySearch Strategy
#7) Describe all information sources (e.g. databases with dates of coverage, contact with study authors to identify additional studies) in the search and date last searched.
#8) Present full electronic search strategy for at least one database, including any limits used, such that it could be repeated.
PRISMA Checklist for Reporting Systematic ReviewsPRISMA Checklist for Reporting Systematic Reviews
From: PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews (2012). PRISMA Checklist. Accessed Jan 10, 2011: http://www.prisma-statement.org/
Run the search
PubMed Advanced Search BuilderPubMed Advanced Search Builder
• Start with your first concept– Search for the subject headings first– Then search text words– Combine these synonymous searches with OR
using your search history
• Repeat for your second, third, and subsequent concepts
• Finally, combine large search results set with AND
How to SearchHow to Search
Search #2 =
Search #3 =
Search #4 =
Search #5 = #1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4
Search #1 =
Concept 1
Search #6 =
Search #7 =
Search #8 =
Search #9 =
Concept 2
Search #10 = #6 OR #7 OR #8 OR #9
Search #11 = #5 AND #10
Results
How to SearchHow to Search
Concept #1 Concept #2 Concept #3Subject Headings
TextWords
AND AND
OR
"Arthritis, Rheumatoid“ [Mesh:NoExp]
"Respiratory Tract Infections"[Mesh]
"Biological Agents"[Mesh]
OR “Biological Therapy”[Mesh]
OR
"rheumatoid arthritis"[Title/Abstract]
“chest infection”[Title/Abstract] OR “chest infections”[Title/Abstract]
biologics[Title/Abstract]
OR
"lung infection"[Title/Abstract] OR "lung infections"[Title/Abstract]
"biological agent"[Title/Abstract] OR "biological agents"[Title/Abstract]
Search StrategySearch Strategy
Applying filters
1. Date of publication – only studies conducted between 2005 and 2010
2. Participants or subjects – only children 6 to 12 years of age
3. Publication language – only materials written in English or French
4. Research design – only clinical trials
Example FiltersExample Filters
Apply to your combined search result set:
– English & French Language– Publication Year: 2001 – Current
Apply FiltersApply Filters
Export References to a Citation Manager
Available to McGill students, faculty, staff.
Available to McGill students, faculty, staff.
Information and workshops:http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-using/endnote
What they do:– Identify and remove duplicate references– Format your bibliography– Organize references into groups– Share your references with colleagues– Automatically find full-text articles– Provide location for article screening
Information and workshops: http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-using/endnote
Citation ManagersCitation Managers
Next steps
• Retain as much of your original strategy as possible
• Recognize that subject headings will be different (or non-existent)
• Keep track of your search terms using new worksheets
Moving to EMBASEMoving to EMBASE
From: Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 6(6): e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097
Next stepsNext steps
• How would you describe a systematic search?
• To find your subject headings, use ________
• To run your search in PubMed, use the _______
RecapRecap
Where to go for HelpWhere to go for Help
Robin Featherstone
Liaison Librarian Life Sciences Library,
McGill University
514-398-4475 ext. 09844
Genevieve Gore
Liaison Librarian Life Sciences Library,
McGill University
ResourcesResourcesSystematic review guidelines:
Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions http://www.cochrane-handbook.org/PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) http://www.prisma-statement.org/statement.htm Systematic Reviews: CRD’s Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health Carehttp://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/SysRev/!SSL!/WebHelp/SysRev3.htm IOM (Institute of Medicine). Finding what works in health care: Standards for Systematic Reviewshttp://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Finding-What-Works-in-Health-Care-Standards-for-Systematic-Reviews.aspxSystematic Reviews: A Guide to Library Resources at McGillhttp://wikisites.mcgill.ca/systematicreview/index.php/Main_Page
Citation management:
Getting help with EndNotehttp://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-using/endnote/help/
Robin Featherstone, MLISLiaison Librarian (Medicine)[email protected]
QuestionsQuestions
Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/featherr
Genevieve Gore, MLISLiaison Librarian (Medicine)[email protected]