Build a systematic review search strategy
Creates database-ready Boolean search strings with synonyms, controlled vocabulary, and documentation for a systematic or scoping review.
The prompt
Help me build a search strategy for a systematic or scoping review.
Review question: [DETAILS]
Framework: [PICO, PEO, SPIDER, PCC, or "suggest one"]
Databases I have access to: [e.g. "PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science"]
Limits: [date range, languages, study designs, and justification for each]
Known key papers that must be found: [2-5 references, for testing the search]
Steps:
1. Break the question into concept blocks using the framework.
2. For each concept, list free-text synonyms, spelling variants, truncation, and likely controlled-vocabulary terms (MeSH, Emtree, thesaurus). Mark subject headings as [VERIFY in database thesaurus] since exact headings must be checked.
3. Combine: OR within concepts, AND between concepts. Use proximity operators where helpful.
4. Translate the strategy into the syntax of each database I listed.
5. Explain how to test sensitivity using my known key papers and what to do if any are missed.
6. Suggest grey literature and supplementary methods (citation chasing, trial registries, preprint servers).
Return: a concept table, the full search string per database, a PRISMA-S style documentation template (database, platform, date searched, results count), and tips for balancing sensitivity vs. precision. Recommend consulting a research librarian to peer-review the strategy.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Research & Summaries prompts
What to fill in
- DETAILS
- PICO, PEO, SPIDER, PCC, or "suggest one"
- e.g. "PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science"
- VERIFY in database thesaurus
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
Related prompts
- Research a company in depthA company profile: business model, financials, strategy, leadership, risks, and recent news.
- Write a literature reviewOrganizes sources into themes, debates, and gaps, then drafts the review.
- Peer-review an academic paper or thesisA rigorous reviewer-style critique of a paper's contribution, methods, and clarity.
- Draft an academic paper from my researchStructures and drafts a paper section by section from your data, notes, and findings.