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.
Escobar Liquitay CM, Garegnani L, Garrote V, Solà I, Franco JVA. Search strategies (filters) to identify systematic reviews in MEDLINE and Embase. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 9. Art. No.: MR000054.
Navarro-Ruan T, Haynes RB. Preliminary comparison of the performance of the National Library of Medicine's systematic review publication type and the sensitive clinical queries filter for systematic reviews in PubMed. J Med Libr Assoc. 2022;110(1):43-46.
Wong SS, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB. Comparison of top-performing search strategies for detecting clinically sound treatment studies and systematic reviews in MEDLINE and EMBASE. J Med Libr Assoc. 2006;94(4):451-5.
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.
Canada's Drug Agency. Filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons [EBSCO]. Last updated 1 August 2023.
Lee E, Dobbins M, DeCorby K, McRae L, Tirilis D, Husson H. An optimal search filter for retrieving systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2012, 12:51 doi:10.1186/1471-2288-12-5
University of Texas School of Public Health. Search filters for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Accessed 06 Dec 2013. [EBSCO]
Wong SS, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB. Optimal CINAHL search strategies for identifying therapy studies and review articles. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2006;38(2):194-9.
SIGN search filter [undated] [Ovid]
University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library. Filters for systematic, scoping and similar reviews
Avau B, Van Remoortel H, De Buck E. Translation and validation of PubMed and Embase search filters for identification of systematic reviews, intervention studies, and observational studies in the field of first aid. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021;109(4):599-608. [Embase.com]
Canada's Drug Agency filters
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. Multifile Ovid search filter combined with MEDLINE and PyscINFO (created 1 December 2021)
Indirect treatment comparisons. Multifile Ovid search filter combined with MEDLINE (created November 2021)
Neilson C, Lê ML. A failed attempt at developing a search filter for systematic review methodology articles in Ovid Embase. J Med Libr Assoc. 2019 Apr;107(2):203-209. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2019.519. Epub 2019 Apr 1.
FMD(3S)/CHLA Literature reviews and meta-analysis search filter [2018]
Lee E, Dobbins M, DeCorby K, McRae L, Tirilis D, Husson H. An optimal search filter for retrieving systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2012; 12:51 doi:10.1186/1471-2288-12-5
Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB, Hedges Team. EMBASE search strategies achieved high sensitivity and specificity for retrieving methodologically sound systematic reviews. J Clin Epidemiol. 2007;60(1):29-33. [Ovid]
BMJ Clinical Evidence strategy [undated] [Ovid]
OVID systematic review search filter [undated]
SIGN search filter [undated] [Ovid]
University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library. Filters for systematic, scoping and similar reviews
Salvador-Oliván JA, Marco-Cuenca G, Arquero-Avilés R. Development of an efficient search filter to retrieve systematic reviews from PubMed. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021;109(4):561-574. [PubMed]
Launch the Salvador-Oliván filter in PubMed
Avau B, Van Remoortel H, De Buck E. Translation and validation of PubMed and Embase search filters for identification of systematic reviews, intervention studies, and observational studies in the field of first aid. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021;109(4):599-608. [PubMed]
Canada's Drug Agency filters
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. Multifile Ovid search filter combined with MEDLINE and PyscINFO (created 1 December 2021)
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. PubMed (created 23 October 2020)
Indirect treatment comparisons. Multifile Ovid search filter combined with Embase (created November 2021)
Indirect treatment comparisons filter for PubMed (created 18 September 2020)
National Library of Medicine: systematic reviews PubMed subset strategy [2018] [PubMed]
Launch the NLM systematic reviews search in PubMed
The search strategy used to create the systematic reviews subset on PubMED 2017 to 2018 is available here.
FMD(3S)/CHLA Literature reviews and meta-analysis search filter [2018]
[Filters available for MEDLINE via EBSCO, OVID]
Lunny C, McKenzie JE, McDonald S. Retrieval of overviews of systematic reviews in MEDLINE was improved by the development an objectively derived and validated search strategy.J Clin Epidemiol. 2015;pii: S0895-4356(15)00578-8
Lee E, Dobbins M, DeCorby K, McRae L, Tirilis D, Husson H. An optimal search filter for retrieving systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2012, 12:51 doi:10.1186/1471-2288-12-5
Montori VM, Wilczynski NL, Morgan D, Haynes RB. Optimal search strategies for retrieving systematic reviews from MEDLINE: analytical survey. BMJ 2005;330(7482):68. [Ovid/PubMed]
also at http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/hiru/HIRU_Hedges_MEDLINE_Strategies.aspx
Editorial. Sanders, S & Del Mar C. Clever searching for evidence. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2005;330(7501):1162-1163.
Shojania KG, Bero LA. Taking advantage of the explosion of systematic reviews: an efficient MEDLINE search strategy. Effect Clin Pract. 2001;4(4):157-62. [PubMed]
White VJ, Glanville JM, Lefebvre C, Sheldon TA. A statistical approach to designing search filters to find systematic reviews: objectivity enhances accuracy. J Info Sci. 2001;27(6):357-70. [Ovid]
Boynton J, Glanville J, McDaid D, Lefebvre C. Identifying systematic reviews in MEDLINE: developing an objective approach to search strategy design. J Info Sci. 1998;24(3):137-54. [Ovid]
BMJ Clinical Evidence strategy [undated] [Ovid]
PearlHarvestingSearchThesaurus. Systematic Review terms [2018]
SIGN search filter [undated] [Ovid]
University of Alberta strategy [undated] [Ovid]
University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library. Filters for systematic, scoping and similar reviews
Ovid APA PsycInfo Search Filters (updated 2024)
Canada's Drug Agency. Filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. Multifile Ovid search filter combined with MEDLINE and PyscINFO (created 1 December 2021)
University Hospitals of Leicester Clinical Librarian Blogspot. Systematic review filter for Proquest PsycINFO [2017]
University of Texas School of Public Health. Search filters for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Accessed 06 Dec 2013. [Ovid]
Eady AM, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB. PsycINFO search strategies identified methodologically sound therapy studies and review articles for use by clinicians and researchers. J Clin Epidemiol 2008;61(1):34-40. [Ovid]
Canada's Drug Agency filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons (created 20 December 2021)