Guidelines: Filters

Inclusion of a search filter on this site is not an endorsement of its validity or a recommendation for its use by the editors of this site, by the InterTASC Information Specialists SubGroup or by the (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). For suggestions on the appraisal of filters see the ISSG Search Filter Appraisal Checklist.

This page shows publications that have reviewed search filter performance and individual search filters.

Please note that other filter sites/filter collections may have relevant filters for this topic.

Publications that review search filter performance

Lunny C, Salzwedel D M, Liu T, Ramasubbu C, Gerrish S, Puil L, Mintzes B, Wright J M. Validation of five search filters for retrieval of clinical practice guidelines produced low precision. J Clin Epidemiol 2019. 117:109-116. 

Individual search filters


Database indexing changes over time and new vocabulary may be introduced.  With older filters, please check the subject indexing to ensure that the subject indexing is still current and, if not, consider whether new vocabulary may need to be added to the filter. Please note that if filters are amended, the performance may change from that published in the original articles and the filter should be reported as amended from the original filter.

CINAHL

CADTH strategies for broad (sensitive) and "standard" searches  [EBSCO]. Last updated 20 February 2020.

Embase

CADTH strategies for broad (sensitive) and "standard" multifile searches of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO  [Ovid]. Last updated 9 December 2021.

MEDLINE

University of Pittsburgh. Health Sciences Library System. Filters for practice guidelines and recommendations (13 May 2024)

CADTH strategies 

FMD(3S)/CHLA Guidelines search filter [Nov 2018]

PsycINFO

CADTH strategies for broad (sensitive) and "standard" multifile searches of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO  [Ovid]. Last updated 9 December 2021.