title: Finding evidence for comparing medical interventions: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses search methodology to identify evidence for comparative effectiveness reviews (CERs) as practiced by the Effective Health Care program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Search methods described attempt to overcome the bias inherent in the publication and distribution of clinical evidence. Bibliographic databases and search strategies are discussed with special emphasis on searching for observational studies and harms data. Other techniques described include the use of key articles, citation tracking, hand searching, and personal communications. Strategies for locating gray literature, such as clinical trial protocols and regulatory information, are described. Search reporting and other practical matters are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better reporting and further research on search strategies is needed to develop additional evidence-based recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Resource Center, AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. relevo@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Relevo
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Balshem
mesh_terms: D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D017594:Publication Bias; D012107:Research Design; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D014481:United States; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality