Systematic Reviews: 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
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.
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 filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons [EBSCO]. Last updated 1 December 2021.
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]
Embase
VonVille, Helena. Filters for systematic review, related reviews and meta-analyses. [Embase.com]
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]
CADTH filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. This is for a multifile search of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO [Ovid]. Last updated 1 December 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]
MEDLINE
VonVille, Helena. Filters for systematic review, related reviews and meta-analyses.
PubMed Updated 18 March 2024: includes all review types that may follow SR methodology as well as reviews that are more than simple narrative reviews (e.g. "state of the art 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]
CADTH filters for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons.
There is a multifile search of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO [Ovid]. Last updated 1 December 2021.
PubMed filter. Last updated 23 October 2020. Launch the CADTH SR, MA, HTA search in PubMed
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 [undated]
SIGN search filter [undated] [Ovid]
University of Alberta strategy [undated] [Ovid]
PsycINFO
CADTH filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. This is for a multifile search of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO [Ovid]. Last updated 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]
Scopus
CADTH filter for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, health technology assessments and indirect treatment comparisons. Last updated 20 December 2021.