Effectiveness and efficiency of search methods in systematic reviews of complex evidence: audit of primary sources

doi:10.1136/bmj.38636.593461.68

BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.38636.593461.68, (Published 17 October 2005)

INFORMATION IN PRACTICE

Effectiveness and efficiency of search methods in systematic reviews of complex evidence: audit of primary sources

Trisha Greenhalgh ¹^* Richard Peacock ²

¹ Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College London Medical School, Holborn Union Building, London N19 5LW
² Archway Healthcare Library, Holborn Union Building, London

^* Correspondence to: p.greenhalgh{at}pcps.ucl.ac.uk.

Objective To describe where papers come from in a systematicreview of complex evidence.

Method Audit of how the 495 primarysources for the review were originally identified.

Results Only30% of sources were obtained from the protocol defined at theoutset of the study (that is, from the database and hand searches).Fifty one per cent were identified by "snowballing" (such aspursuing references of references), and 24% by personal knowledgeor personal contacts.

Conclusion Systematic reviews of complexevidence cannot rely solely on protocol-driven search strategies.

(Accepted 14 September 2005)

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