title: Managing large-volume literature searches in research synthesis studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systematic reviews typically require searching for, retrieving, and screening a large volume of literature, yet little guidance is available on how to manage this volume.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We detail methods used to search for and manage the yield of relevant citations for a mixed-methods, mixed research synthesis study focused on the intersection between family life and childhood chronic physical conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed inclusive search strings and searched nine bibliographic databases to identify relevant research regardless of methodological origin. We customized searches to individual databases, developed work-arounds for transferring large volumes of citations and eliminating duplicate citations using reference management software, and used this software as a portal to select citations for inclusion or exclusion. We identified 67,555 citations, retrieved and screened 3,617 reports, and selected 800 reports for inclusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic reviews require search procedures to allow consistent and comprehensive approaches and the ability to work around technical obstacles.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: havill@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Havill
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leeman
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw-Kokot
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knafl
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crandell
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandelowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D063025:Health Information Management / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012984:Software