Boxer Library
The searching process for an evidence synthesis review takes place over many months and is an iterative process. You will need to keep careful notes of the search strategies you have tried, what terms work and don’t work, what databases you search and the date of those searches. You will not be able to remember what databases you already tried, what worked and what didn’t.
There is no right way to keep track of searches. You can use a method that works for you. Many people use a Word or Google document or an Excel or Google spreadsheet. Below are templates you can use that already have the items that you should track when moving through the searching process.
When you have mostly finalized your search, you can keep a more formal final results log that is meant to show your final results or to keep track of search re-runs.
