gms | German Medical Science

Methodological search filters play an essential part in search strategy development when searching for evidence to underpin evidence syntheses. Not all search filters, however, are equally effective. The ISSG Search Filter Resource (ISSG SFR) was developed to improve awareness of and provide free access to a ‘one-stop-shop’ for critical appraisal of existing methodological search filters, allowing users to more easily identify not only tested but also externally validated filters.

Over the last 2 years, there have been a number of developments and innovations in the Search Filter Resource, marked as NEW! below.

Searches to identify eligible methodological filters are run monthly in CINAHL, Embase and MEDLINE. Tables of contents and current awareness lists are also screened. Search results are scanned by the Editorial Team for eligible records and these are confirmed by JG and added to the ISSG SFR site.

The ISSG SFR currently serves as a source of:

• methodological search filters e.g. for adverse events, diagnostic studies, RCTs, systematic reviews etc.;
• bibliographic references to published filters, with links to the PubMed record and/or open access full-text;
• contact information for filter developers, including contact information for developers of unpublished filters / filters in progress;
• independent abstracts and structured critical appraisals for some filters e.g. the diagnostic studies section;
• references to research on the design, development and use of filters, including studies reporting comparative data from independent testing of filters.

In addition to methodological search filters, other related areas are being added and developed, e.g. filters for specific age groups, ethnic groups, geographic areas and links to collections of non-methodological clinical-topic-specific ‘filters’ or ‘search blocks’.

NEW! The resource is now being developed further with the inclusion of additional value-added information, which will form the content of this presentation, such as:

• links to launch search filters in PubMed, thus automating this element of the search strategy development, to save time and reduce errors
• links to comments and errata
• highlighting comparative performance data visually
• guidance on reporting filters.

NEW! The resource is also being more-actively disseminated via:

• e-mail lists
• conference presentations
• social media by using Twitter (@ISSG_Filters https://twitter.com/ISSG_Filters).

The site had been managed by an Editorial Team comprising Julie Glanville, Carol Lefebvre and until December 2020, Kath Wright (CRD, University of York, UK). The Editorial Team has recently been expanded to include Paul Manson, Sophie Robinson and Naomi Shaw.

Feedback is welcome, including information about filters not currently listed, usability of the site etc.

Please visit the site at: https://sites.google.com/a/york.ac.uk/issg-search-filters-resource

Keywords: automation of search strategies, methodological search filters, search filter evaluation, search strategy development, study identification for evidence syntheses