APPENDIX 2: KCE selection of special queries
How to use this file
Depending on your needs, choose the appropriate type of filter (SR or RCT). Then use the filter from the most sensitive to the more specific. In other words, if the most sensitive gives you too much results, use a more specific.
Combine the last line using a AND with the results’ set you want to filter.
Systematic reviews
Medline (OVID)
limit # to systematic reviews
Where # is the line number
This limit will run a query based on the search strategy developed by PubMed.
Embase (Embase.com)
'meta-analysis'/exp OR 'meta-analysis' OR 'systematic review'/exp OR 'systematic review'
This query is adapted from Wilczynski
Randomized Control Trials (RCT)
Medline (OVID)
All queries are adapted from the Cochrane Handbook
Sensitive
- randomized controlled trial.pt
- controlled clinical trial.pt
- randomized.ab
- placebo.ab
- drug therapy.fs
- randomly.ab
- trial.ab
- groups.ab
- 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8
- exp animals/ not humans.sh
- 9 not 10
Sensitivity and specificity
- randomized controlled trial.pt
- controlled clinical trial.pt
- randomized.ti,ab
- placebo.ti,ab
- clinical trials as topic.sh
- randomly.ti,ab
- Trial?.ti
- 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7
- exp animals/ not humans.sh
- 8 not 9
Embase (Embase.com)
All queries are adapted from Wong
Sensitive
random*:ab,ti or ‘clinical trial’/de or ‘clinical trial’ or ‘health care quality’/exp
Sensitivity and precision
random*:ab,ti OR placebo*:de,ab,ti OR (double NEXT/1 blind*):ab,ti
Notes
- Several sources of Special queries are listed in the KCE library catalogue
- For a definition, see the "Search electronic Databases Glossary"