Why is selecting appropriate databases crucial for systematic reviews?

Choosing the right databases ensures a comprehensive capture of relevant literature, minimizes the risk of missing key studies, includes both published and gray literature, and facilitates a more robust analysis.

Which databases are recommended for medical and life sciences research?

For medical and life sciences, recommended databases include PubMed for biomedical literature, EMBASE for drug and pharmacological research, Cochrane Library for systematic reviews and clinical trials, and CINAHL for nursing and allied health literature.

What factors should be considered when selecting databases for a systematic review?

Key considerations include relevance to the research question, coverage of gray literature, time span of the database, accessibility and cost, and language of publication.

How can I develop an effective database selection strategy?

Start by defining your research scope and identifying key concepts. Map databases to relevant disciplines, run test searches to assess coverage, and document your selection process to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

Choosing Appropriate Databases for Systematic Reviews

Learning Objectives

Understand the significance of selecting appropriate databases for systematic reviews.
Identify key databases suitable for various research disciplines.
Develop a strategy for comprehensive database selection to ensure thorough coverage.

Database selection is pivotal in systematic review planning, as it ensures a broad and thorough capture of relevant literature. Each database offers unique strengths, covering various fields, publication types, and study designs. Therefore, the choice of databases directly impacts the quality and completeness of the systematic review.

A well-chosen combination of databases:

Minimizes the risk of missing key studies.
Ensures inclusion of both published and gray literature.
Facilitates a more robust, comprehensive analysis.

Selecting an appropriate mix of databases is fundamental for conducting a high-quality systematic review. Each database offers unique strengths, and using a combination is often necessary to capture all relevant literature. A well-designed database strategy—coupled with effective search techniques—ensures comprehensive and reproducible results, minimizing research gaps.

EviSynth further enhances database selection and searching capabilities, streamlining the systematic review process and aiding researchers in achieving thorough literature coverage.

Back to Tutorials