title: Beyond MEDLINE for literature searches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe strategies for a comprehensive literature search.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE searches result in limited numbers of studies that are often biased toward statistically significant findings. Diversified search strategies are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Empirical evidence about the recall and precision of diverse search strategies is presented. Challenges and strengths of each search strategy are identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Search strategies vary in recall and precision. Often sensitivity and specificity are inversely related. Valuable search strategies include examination of multiple diverse computerized databases, ancestry searches, citation index searches, examination of research registries, journal hand searching, contact with the "invisible college," examination of abstracts, Internet searches, and contact with sources of synthesized information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extending searches beyond MEDLINE enables researchers to conduct more systematic comprehensive searches.
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. conn@missouri.edu
authors.forename: Vicki S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Conn
authors.forename: Sang-arun
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Isaramalai
authors.forename: Sabyasachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Peeranuch
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jantarakupt
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wadhawan
authors.forename: Yashodhara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dash
mesh_terms: D003200:Computer User Training; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D016239:MEDLINE / Q000592:standards*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012196:Review Literature as Topic