Abstract
Objectives: Developing a search strategy for use in a systematic review is a time-consuming process requiring construction of detailed search strings using complicated syntax, followed by iterative fine-tuning and trial-and-error testing of these strings in online biomedical search engines. Methods: Building upon limitations of existing online-only search builders, a user-friendly computer-based tool was created to expedite search strategy development as part of production of a systematic review. Results: Search Builder 1.0 is a Microsoft Excel®-based tool that automatically assembles search strategy text strings for PubMed (www.pubmed.com) and Embase (www.embase.com), based on a list of user-defined search terms and preferences. With the click of a button, Search Builder 1.0 automatically populates the syntax needed for functional search strings, and copies the string to the clipboard for pasting into Pubmed or Embase. The offline file-based interface of Search Builder 1.0 also allows for searches to be easily shared and saved for future reference. Conclusions: This novel, user-friendly tool can save considerable time and streamline a cumbersome step in the systematic review process.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 51-53 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | International journal of technology assessment in health care |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 14 2015 |
Keywords
- Microsoft Excel
- Search builder
- Software tool
- Systematic review
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Policy