Errors to avoid when searching for studies for systematic reviews: A guide for nurse researchers

Abstract

Systematic reviews aim to provide reliable answers to research questions by identifying and synthesising the available evidence using rigorous methods. This makes systematic reviews a cornerstone of evidence-based practice in healthcare settings. However, despite the avowed aim and importance of systematic reviews, studies have shown that they often include serious flaws, including in the search for studies. In this article, some commonly seen errors in systematic review search strategies are described with the intention of alerting nurse researchers who are planning a systematic review to what should be avoided. These include errors relating to bibliographic databases and supplementary searches, including database selection, free-text searching, controlled vocabulary and structural errors. The paper is framed within the context of older people nursing but has relevance to nurse researchers more widely.