Which are the most sensitive search filters to identify randomized controlled trials in MEDLINE? (original) (raw)
Related papers
Optimizing search strategies to identify randomized controlled trials in MEDLINE
BMC Medical Research Methodology, 2006
The Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS), which contains three phases, is widely used to identify Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE. Lefebvre and Clarke suggest that reviewers might consider using four revisions of the HSSS. The objective of this study is to validate these four revisions: combining the free text terms volunteer, crossover, versus, and the Medical Subject Heading CROSS-OVER STUDIES with the top two phases of the HSSS, respectively.
How to identify randomized controlled trials in MEDLINE: ten years on
Journal of the Medical Library Association Jmla, 2006
OBJECTIVE: The researchers sought to assess whether the widely used 1994 Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE could be improved in terms of sensitivity, precision, or parsimony.METHODS: A gold standard of 1,347 RCT records and a comparison group of 2,400 non-trials were randomly selected from MEDLINE. Terms occurring in at least 1% of RCT records were identified. Fifty percent of the RCT and comparison group records were randomly selected, and the ability of the terms to discriminate RCTs from non-trial records was determined using logistic regression. The best performing combinations of terms were tested on the remaining records and in MEDLINE.RESULTS: The best discriminating term was "Clinical Trial" (Publication Type). In years where the Cochrane assessment of MEDLINE records had taken place, the strategies identified few additional unindexed records of trials. In years where Cochrane assessment has yet to take place, "Randomized Controlled Trial" (Publication Type) proved highly sensitive and precise. Adding six more search terms identified further, unindexed trials at reasonable levels of precision and with sensitivity almost equal to the Cochrane HSSS.CONCLUSIONS: Most reports of RCTs in MEDLINE can now be identified easily using "Randomized Controlled Trial" (Publication Type). More sensitive searches can be achieved by a brief strategy, the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination/Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (2005 revision).
A Two-Term MEDLINE Search Strategy for Identifying Randomized Trials in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1998
Methods: To develop our search strategy, we asked clinicians in our department to indicate, from a list of search terms, the terms they would use to identify RCTs in MED-LINE. The two most common terms, controlled-clinical-trial (publication type) and randomized-controlled-trial (publication type), were combined with the link word, OR, and then used to identify RCTs in four obstetrics and gynecology journals for the years 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1995. Concurrently, a handsearch of these same journals and years was performed to identify RCTs. The sensitivity and precision of MEDLINE and handsearch were calculated using the total number of RCTs identified by both methods as a reference standard. Sensitivity is the RCTs identified by search strategy as a percentage of all RCTs identified by reference standard. Precision is the RCTs identified by a search strategy as a percentage of all articles identified by it.
PubMed had a higher sensitivity than Ovid-MEDLINE in the search for systematic reviews
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2011
Objective-To compare the results of searching the MEDLINE database through Ovid and the free online version of PubMed administered by the National Library of Medicine for randomized controlled trials on the subject of the drug methotrexate (MTX) for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Design-Comparative analysis of search results.
International Journal of Epidemiology, 2002
Failure to identify all possibly relevant reports of controlled trials for systematic review could result in bias. As part of the effort to identify all such reports, the Cochrane Collaboration has been using a 'highly sensitive search strategy' developed in 1993 for the retrieval of reports of controlled trials from MEDLINE. Many reviewers do not have access to fee-based versions of MEDLINE and will increasingly turn to the free web-based searching provided by PubMed as a means of identifying reports of controlled trials. Therefore, we set out to revise the original Cochrane strategy to develop a highly sensitive search strategy for the retrieval of reports of controlled trials from MEDLINE using PubMed.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Cochrane Library: the best evidence within everyone's reach
Sao Paulo Medical Journal
The Cochrane Library represents excellence in the production of systematic reviews, which are considered to provide the best evidence for diminishing uncertainties within healthcare. It is among the ten most important medical journals worldwide and is available to Brazilians openly and free of charge. 1-2 Within the Cochrane Library, there is a collection of databases that provides evidence directed towards Cochrane systematic reviews and their protocols (Cochrane review in progress) and towards Cochrane database systematic reviews (CDSR). The Cochrane Library also includes the largest directory of clinical trials in the world (CENTRAL, the Central Register of Controlled Trials) and Cochrane Clinical Answers, which is an integrated search resource that enables searches in external databases, all within the same tool. 3 Cochrane reviews are live publications, given that they are updated every two years. The Cochrane Library offers its users the best two levels of evidence for decision-making within healthcare.