# Build a systematic review search strategy

Creates database-ready Boolean search strings with synonyms, controlled vocabulary, and documentation for a systematic or scoping review.

- Topic: Research & Summaries
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Strategy, Research, Analyze, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-a-systematic-review-search-strategy

## Prompt

```text
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.
```

## 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

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.