Journal article
Abbreviated literature searches were viable alternatives to comprehensive searches: a meta-epidemiological study.
- Nussbaumer-Streit B Cochrane Austria, Danube University Krems, Krems a.d. Donau, Austria. Electronic address: barbara.nussbaumer-streit@donau-uni.ac.at.
- Klerings I Cochrane Austria, Danube University Krems, Krems a.d. Donau, Austria.
- Wagner G Cochrane Austria, Danube University Krems, Krems a.d. Donau, Austria.
- Heise TL Research Group for Evidence-Based Public Health, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research - IPP, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- Dobrescu AI Genetics Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania.
- Armijo-Olivo S Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta & Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- Stratil JM Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
- Persad E Cochrane Austria, Danube University Krems, Krems a.d. Donau, Austria.
- Lhachimi SK Research Group for Evidence-Based Public Health, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research - IPP, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- Van Noord MG Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives, Durham, NC, USA.
- Mittermayr T Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Vienna, Austria.
- Zeeb H Department for Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
- Hemkens L Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Gartlehner G Cochrane Austria, Danube University Krems, Krems a.d. Donau, Austria; RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
- 2018-06-05
Published in:
- Journal of clinical epidemiology. - 2018
Abbreviated
Databases
Limited
Literature search
Rapid reviews
Systematic reviews
Decision Making
Epidemiologic Studies
Humans
Review Literature as Topic
Selection Bias
Time Factors
English
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of abbreviated literature searches on evidence syntheses conclusions.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
We randomly selected 60 Cochrane reviews of clinical interventions and repeated literature searches using 14 abbreviated approaches (combinations of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL with and without searches of reference lists). If abbreviated searches missed included studies, we recalculated meta-analyses. Cochrane authors determined whether the new evidence base would change conclusions. We assessed the noninferiority of abbreviated searches allowing for a maximum of 10% changed conclusions.
RESULTS
We conducted 840 abbreviated literature searches. Noninferiority varied based on the definition of "changed conclusion". When the reduction of the certainty of a conclusion was of concern, all abbreviated searches were inferior. Searching Embase only rendered the greatest proportion of changed conclusions (27%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16%-40%); combining MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL with searches of references lists the lowest (8%, 95% CI 3%-18%). When falsely reaching an opposite conclusion was of concern, combining one database with another or with searches of reference lists was noninferior to comprehensive searches (2%, 95% CI: 0%-9%).
CONCLUSION
If decision-makers are willing to accept less certainty and a small risk for opposite conclusions, some abbreviated searches are viable options for rapid evidence syntheses. Decisions demanding high certainty require comprehensive searches.
To assess the effects of abbreviated literature searches on evidence syntheses conclusions.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
We randomly selected 60 Cochrane reviews of clinical interventions and repeated literature searches using 14 abbreviated approaches (combinations of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL with and without searches of reference lists). If abbreviated searches missed included studies, we recalculated meta-analyses. Cochrane authors determined whether the new evidence base would change conclusions. We assessed the noninferiority of abbreviated searches allowing for a maximum of 10% changed conclusions.
RESULTS
We conducted 840 abbreviated literature searches. Noninferiority varied based on the definition of "changed conclusion". When the reduction of the certainty of a conclusion was of concern, all abbreviated searches were inferior. Searching Embase only rendered the greatest proportion of changed conclusions (27%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16%-40%); combining MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL with searches of references lists the lowest (8%, 95% CI 3%-18%). When falsely reaching an opposite conclusion was of concern, combining one database with another or with searches of reference lists was noninferior to comprehensive searches (2%, 95% CI: 0%-9%).
CONCLUSION
If decision-makers are willing to accept less certainty and a small risk for opposite conclusions, some abbreviated searches are viable options for rapid evidence syntheses. Decisions demanding high certainty require comprehensive searches.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.05.022
- PMID 29864540
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/17815
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