Managing Search Results in Systematic Reviews

Learning Objectives

  • Master effective techniques for organizing large volumes of search results
  • Learn systematic approaches to removing duplicate references
  • Understand how to use reference management software strategically
  • Develop skills in documenting and tracking the screening process
  • Create reproducible workflows for managing systematic review data

Introduction

Managing search results efficiently is crucial for maintaining the integrity and organization of systematic reviews. With searches often yielding thousands of references across multiple databases, proper management becomes essential for:

  • Maintaining accuracy and preventing data loss
  • Enabling efficient screening processes
  • Supporting transparent reporting
  • Facilitating collaboration among review team members

Export Settings for Major Databases

PubMed

Format: .nbib or .csv

  • • Complete record
  • • Include abstracts
  • • Include MeSH terms

Scopus

Format: .ris or .csv

  • • Citation information
  • • Abstract & keywords
  • • Bibliographical info

Web of Science

Format: .txt or .ris

  • • Full record
  • • Cited references
  • • Keywords Plus

Embase

Format: .ris

  • • Complete record
  • • Emtree terms
  • • Drug/disease index

Reference Management Software Comparison

Software Key Features Best For Price
EndNote
  • • Robust deduplication
  • • Custom fields
  • • Advanced sorting
 Large-scale reviews Commercial
Zotero
  • • Open-source
  • • Browser integration
  • • Group collaboration
 Team projects Free
Mendeley
  • • PDF annotation
  • • Social networking
  • • Cloud storage
 Individual researchers Freemium
Covidence
  • • Systematic review-specific
  • • Screening workflow
  • • Data extraction tools
 Full review management Subscription

Deduplication Process

Step 1: Automated Check

  • • Use software deduplication
  • • Set matching criteria
  • • Process in batches

Step 2: Manual Review

  • • Check potential matches
  • • Verify false positives
  • • Document decisions

Step 3: Quality Control

  • • Check similar titles
  • • Review author names
  • • Verify publication types

Best Practices for Documentation

Documentation is crucial for reproducibility and reporting.

Search Results

  • • Original files
  • • Export dates
  • • Result counts

Deduplication Log

  • • Duplicates removed
  • • Method used
  • • Decision records

Screening Process

  • • Reviewer assignments
  • • Decision criteria
  • • Conflict resolution

Additional Resources

Training Materials

Support Tools

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