title: Citation searches are more sensitive than keyword searches to identify studies using specific measurement instruments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of two search methods in identifying studies that used the Control Preferences Scale (CPS), a health care decision-making instrument commonly used in clinical settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the literature using two methods: (1) keyword searching using variations of "Control Preferences Scale" and (2) cited reference searching using two seminal CPS publications. We searched three bibliographic databases [PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS)] and one full-text database (Google Scholar). We report precision and sensitivity as measures of effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Keyword searches in bibliographic databases yielded high average precision (90%) but low average sensitivity (16%). PubMed was the most precise, followed closely by Scopus and WOS. The Google Scholar keyword search had low precision (54%) but provided the highest sensitivity (70%). Cited reference searches in all databases yielded moderate sensitivity (45-54%), but precision ranged from 35% to 75% with Scopus being the most precise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cited reference searches were more sensitive than keyword searches, making it a more comprehensive strategy to identify all studies that use a particular instrument. Keyword searches provide a quick way of finding some but not all relevant articles. Goals, time, and resources should dictate the combination of which methods and databases are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0177, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Geetanjali R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.affiliation: Research Medical Library, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Smita S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Saraykar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0177, USA. Electronic address: bvolk@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Volk
mesh_terms: D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000379:methods*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D039781:PubMed
keywords: Information sources; Instruments; Meta-analyses; Methodology; Search methods; Systematic reviews