Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a high-quality literature search

doi:10.1503/cjs.017314

. 2015 Oct;58(5):349-58.

doi: 10.1503/cjs.017314.

Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a high-quality literature search

Daniel Waltho¹, Manraj Nirmal Kaur¹, R Brian Haynes¹, Forough Farrokhyar¹, Achilleas Thoma¹

Affiliations

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Waltho); the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur, Thoma); the Surgical Outcomes Research Centre, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur, Farrokhyar, Thoma); the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur); and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Haynes, Farrokhyar, Thoma).

PMID: 26384150
PMCID: PMC4600000
DOI: 10.1503/cjs.017314

Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a high-quality literature search

Daniel Waltho et al. Can J Surg. 2015 Oct.

. 2015 Oct;58(5):349-58.

doi: 10.1503/cjs.017314.

Authors

Daniel Waltho¹, Manraj Nirmal Kaur¹, R Brian Haynes¹, Forough Farrokhyar¹, Achilleas Thoma¹

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. (Waltho); the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur, Thoma); the Surgical Outcomes Research Centre, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur, Farrokhyar, Thoma); the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Kaur); and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. (Haynes, Farrokhyar, Thoma).

PMID: 26384150
PMCID: PMC4600000
DOI: 10.1503/cjs.017314

Abstract

The article "Users" guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a "literature search" was published in 2003, but the continuing technological developments in databases and search filters have rendered that guide out of date. The present guide fills an existing gap in this area; it provides the reader with strategies for developing a searchable clinical question, creating an efficient search strategy,accessing appropriate databases, and skillfully retrieving the best evidence to address the research question.

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Figures

**Fig. 1**
Search strategy operating as an organized grouping of concepts.

**Fig. 2**
The 6S (systems, summaries, synopses of syntheses, syntheses, synopses of single studies, single studies) pyramid.

**Fig. 3**
Basic framework to guide a literature search from start to finish.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Gallo L; BHSc; Murphy J, Braga LH, Farrokhyar F, Thoma A. Gallo L, et al. Can J Surg. 2018 Jun;61(3):208-214. doi: 10.1503/cjs.013117. Can J Surg. 2018. PMID: 29806819 Free PMC article.
Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess an article about harm in surgery.
Thoma A, Kaur MN, Farrokhyar F, Waltho D, Levis C, Lovrics P, Goldsmith CH. Thoma A, et al. Can J Surg. 2016 Sep;59(5):351-7. doi: 10.1503/cjs.015115. Can J Surg. 2016. PMID: 27668334 Free PMC article.
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Gallo L, Eskicioglu C, Braga LH, Farrokhyar F, Thoma A. Gallo L, et al. Can J Surg. 2017 Aug;60(4):280-287. doi: 10.1503/cjs.002217. Can J Surg. 2017. PMID: 28730989 Free PMC article.
Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a noninferiority trial.
Thoma A, Farrokhyar F, Waltho D, Braga LH, Sprague S, Goldsmith CH. Thoma A, et al. Can J Surg. 2017 Dec;60(6):426-432. doi: 10.1503/cjs.000317. Can J Surg. 2017. PMID: 29173262 Free PMC article.
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References

1. Sackett DL, Strauss SE, Richardson WS, et al. Evidence-Based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.
1. Becker A, Blümle A, Momeni A. Evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery: developments over two decades. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;132:657e–63e. - PubMed
1. Birch DW, Eady A, Robertson D, et al. Users’ guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a literature search. Can J Surg. 2003;46:136. - PMC - PubMed
1. Archibald S, Bhandari M, Thoma A, et al. Users’ guides to the surgical literature: how to use an article about a diagnostic test. Can J Surg. 2001;44:17–23. - PMC - PubMed
1. Urschel JD, Tandan V, Miller J, et al. Users’ guide to evidence-based surgery: how to use an article evaluating surgical interventions. Can J Surg. 2001;44:95–100. - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Sackett DL, Strauss SE, Richardson WS, et al. Evidence-Based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

[2] Sackett DL, Strauss SE, Richardson WS, et al. Evidence-Based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

[3] Becker A, Blümle A, Momeni A. Evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery: developments over two decades. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;132:657e–63e. - PubMed

[4] Becker A, Blümle A, Momeni A. Evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery: developments over two decades. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;132:657e–63e. - PubMed

[5] Birch DW, Eady A, Robertson D, et al. Users’ guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a literature search. Can J Surg. 2003;46:136. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Birch DW, Eady A, Robertson D, et al. Users’ guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a literature search. Can J Surg. 2003;46:136. - PMC - PubMed

[7] Archibald S, Bhandari M, Thoma A, et al. Users’ guides to the surgical literature: how to use an article about a diagnostic test. Can J Surg. 2001;44:17–23. - PMC - PubMed

[8] Archibald S, Bhandari M, Thoma A, et al. Users’ guides to the surgical literature: how to use an article about a diagnostic test. Can J Surg. 2001;44:17–23. - PMC - PubMed

[9] Urschel JD, Tandan V, Miller J, et al. Users’ guide to evidence-based surgery: how to use an article evaluating surgical interventions. Can J Surg. 2001;44:95–100. - PMC - PubMed

[10] Urschel JD, Tandan V, Miller J, et al. Users’ guide to evidence-based surgery: how to use an article evaluating surgical interventions. Can J Surg. 2001;44:95–100. - PMC - PubMed

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Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a high-quality literature search

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Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to perform a high-quality literature search

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