You need to write up your search so readers understand what steps you took to locate all relevant evidence. This is also an important part of making sure your review is transparent and reproducible.
It's best practice to include appendices that contain the actual searches you used. This can usually be copy and pasted from the interface, and cleaned up in a word processor.
This is the Medline example given in the PRISMA - P Elaboration and Explanation
Appendix 1
Draft MEDLINE search - Ovid interface
1. Infant, Extremely Premature/
2. Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight/
3. Infant, Very Low Birth Weight/
4. (extreme* adj2 preterm).mp.
5. (extreme* adj2 prematur*).mp.
6. extreme* low birth weight.mp.
7. (low gestational age neonate* or ELGAN*).mp.
8. very preterm.mp.
9. very premature.mp.
10. ELBW.mp.
11. ((limit* adj2 viability) or (margin* adj2 viability)).tw. or (22 week* or 23 week* or 24 week* or 25 week* or 26 week* or (26* adj5 week*) or (27* adj5 week*) or (28* adj5 week*) or (29* adj5 week*) or (30* adj5 week*) or (31* adj5 week*) or 32* week* or (32* adj2 fewer week*) or (32* adj2 less week*)).mp.
12. resuscit*.mp.
13. exp Obstetric Labor, Premature/
14. or/1-13
15. exp Parents/ or parent*.tw. or mother*.tw. or father*.tw.
16. Decision Making/
17. Counseling/
18. Advance Care Planning/ or Advance Directives/
19. (counsel* and decision*).mp.
20. or/16-19
21. (deliver* or predeliver* or prenatal* or antenatal* or perinatal*).mp.
22. 14 and 15 and 20 and 21
✅ Learnings
⚠️ I'm stuck!
But what do I write?
Read other reviews in your subject area to get an idea of how others have discussed and presented their search strategy.
My search is very messy. Should I include it?
If your search is a bit chaotic, you should clean it up and check for errors. Make sure your searches are tidy and easy to understand for others.
🛑 Stop and Review
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