John,
We are eagerly awaiting the results of the following to answer this
question:
Last updated: 20th October 2000. Next update: 30th October 2000
Project title:
The importance of comprehensive literature searches and
quality assessment in systematic reviews: empirical study
Project code:
97/18/05
Cost: £45,179
Grantholder:
Dr Matthias Egger, Cons Sen Lect in Epidemiology,
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol
Start date:
June 1999
Estimated publication date:
Early 2002*
*Please note that HTA publication dates include an estimate of time
needed for report preparation and printing
based on experience from the first year of publication
Abstract:
This project aims to examine to what extent costly and time-
intensive
procedures in systematic reviews increase the validity of their
findings. The focus will be on the two main
domains which are widely considered to characterise high quality
reviews. (i) The location and inclusion of all
relevant studies through comprehensive literature searches in many
languages, the translation of articles, the
search for materials published in journals not indexed in electronic
databases and the inclusion of unpublished
material. (ii) The assessment of study quality using standardised
instruments, generally by two observers blinded
to key study features, and the exclusion of studies considered of
low quality.
We are shortly to embark on some joint work with the New Zealand
HTA to look at the added value of "additional sources" over an
agreed core of "essential sources". We shall be looking for
volunteers worldwide!
Andrew
> I'm looking into the efficiency of literature searching for systematic
> reviews.
>
> My feeling is that generally the majority of relevant literature can
> be found relatively quickly and easily by using Medline and other
> electronic databases.
>
> The harder (and more time consuming) workof a literature search is
> following up citations, grey literature searches etc. However, this
> hardwork tends to find relatively few contributions compared to the
> electronic databases.
>
> Does this seem reasonable and if so does anyone know of any studies
> that have looked into this?
>
> Ta
>
> Jon
>
>
Andrew Booth BA MSc Dip Lib ALA
Director of Information Resources and
Senior Lecturer - Evidence Based Healthcare Information.
School of Health & Related Research (ScHARR)
Regent Court
30 Regent Street
SHEFFIELD
S1 4DA
Tel: 0114 222 5420 or 5214 Fax: 0114 272 4095
The author of Netting the Evidence:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~scharr/ir/netting.html
and Trawling the Net:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~scharr/ir/trawling.html
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|