It is important that you document your search(es) so they in principle are reproducible and explicitly reflect your search in the various databases.
The detail in which you can register your search is dependent on the source you search in. As a minimum, the documentation must include:
PRISMA-S (Prisma for Searching) is a checklist with 16 points, which can be helpful for transparent reporting of the literature search. According to PRISMA-S checklist all databases, registries and other sources used to find articles should be reported, in addition to the date when each source was last searched. The search strategy should be documented in full for each database, and can be published as supplementary material to the published review.
A search protocol is a way to document the search process.
The search protocol can also be used as a log book throughout the search and its many phases.
Add the search protocol as an appendix or supplementary materials to your article.
Click here to see an example of a search protocol, developed by the SR service at Copenhagen university library.
As with any type of research, the search and review process in a systematic review should be transparently documented in all parts, clearly reported in the final publication, and as reproducible as possible.
To help you document the search and review processes, follow established guidelines, such as those found in PRISMA Statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
PRISMA Guidelines describe how systematic reviews should be reported. PRISMA 2020 consists of a checklist with 27 points and several flowcharts.
Provide a flowchart to show the different phases of the search process, mapping the number of identified, included and excluded studies and the reasons for exclusions. Different templates for the flowchart are available depending on the type of review (new or updated) and the sources used to identify the studies. The most common flowchart is The Prisma Flowchart.
By creating an account in the database or source you are searching in, you can save your searches. This means you have your search history, can retrieve updates or alerts to the search and can automatically re-run the search just before you submit your manuscript to ensure you have included the latest information in your article.
