Standardization of search methods for guideline development: an international survey of evidence-based guideline development groups.
BACKGROUND
Effective literature searching is particularly important for clinical practice guideline development. Sophisticated searching and filtering mechanisms are needed to help ensure that all relevant research is reviewed.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the methods used for the selection of evidence for guideline development by evidence-based guideline development organizations.


METHODS
A semistructured questionnaire assessing the databases, search filters and evaluation methods used for literature retrieval was distributed to eight major organizations involved in evidence-based guideline development.


RESULTS
All of the organizations used search filters as part of guideline development. The medline database was the primary source accessed for literature retrieval. The OVID or SilverPlatter interfaces were used in preference to the freely accessed PubMed interface. The Cochrane Library, embase, cinahl and psycinfo databases were also frequently used by the organizations. All organizations reported the intention to improve and validate their filters for finding literature specifically relevant for guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
In the first international survey of its kind, eight major guideline development organizations indicated a strong interest in identifying, improving and standardizing search filters to improve guideline development. It is to be hoped that this will result in the standardization of, and open access to, search filters, an improvement in literature searching outcomes and greater collaboration among guideline development organizations.
Deurenberg
Rikie
R
Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement CBO, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Vlayen
Joan
J
Guillo
Sylvie
S
Oliver
Thomas K
TK
Fervers
Beatrice
B
Burgers
Jako
J
D015706:Bibliometrics; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013358:Subject Headings; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014584:User-Computer Interface