Hi interesting point on hand searching, I would love to hear more points of view on this.
I would have to say in a lot of cases hand searching is a logistical nightmare, and actually where do you hand search?
I think you only know where to hand search after finishing a good electronic search, which then highlights the hotspots.
In addition a hand search of a large journal (BMJ, NEJM, LANCET etc etc.) would take an extraordinary length of time, and do you only hand search journals which you know aren't indexed. If a journal is indexed, what's the point in hand searching articles that your keywords don't appear in?
On reviews similar to the one I am currently working on I have seen individuals state that hand searching was an effective way to find articles that would otherwise have been missed by electronic searching. Does this not actually mean my electronic search strategy was not effective?
Surely the days of hand searching are numbered. The more research is published the more we will need to devise better ways of searching the literature electronically. By hand searching are we not just covering up our limitations in electronic searching?
I pose some of these questions to entice debate.
Adrian
____________________________________
Adrian Sayers
Systematic Reviewer
Room 306H
Department of General Practice
School of Medicine
Cardiff University
3rd Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd
University Hospital Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
Direct Tel: 029 2068 7168
Dept. Tel: 029 2068 7159
Fax. 029 2068 7219
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