Systematic literature searching for health and life sciences students

Saving, re-running and evidencing searches

You can save and retrieve searches in some of the online databases. This can save you time, especially if you have built up a complex structured search, as it will enable you to run the search again later. In order to save searches you usually need to set up a personal account.

You may need to include a search strategy in your written work. This provides evidence of the search you have conducted, ensuring transparency and allows someone to reproduce it. ​

The PRISMA 2020 checklist states that the search strategy should "Present the full search strategies for all databases, registers and websites, including any filters and limits used".

A search strategy usually includes:

• where you have searched (database name and platform).
• the date you searched.
• what keywords you have used.
• how you have combined your keywords.
• what advanced search techniques you have used.
• how many results you have found.
• any limits/filters you have applied.

Creating a personal account

You can open and search a database without having to create a personal account but you need to create a personal account in order to:

• save searches (which you can re-run later).
• save articles/research papers.
• create folders/projects, so you can organise your saved articles.

EBSCOhost

The video and written guidance below explain how to create a personal account within EBSCOhost. This will enable you to save and re-run searches in a range of databases, including CINAHL and Medline. 

Ovid

The video and written guidance below explain how to create a personal account with Ovid. This will enable you to save and re-run searches in a range of databases, including Embase and Maternity and Infant Care. 

CINAHL, Medline (EBSCOhost)

The videos and written guidance below explain how to save and re-run searches in the EBSCOhost databases, such as CINAHL and Medline.

Retrieving and re-running a search across more than one database in EBSCOhost

This short video explains how to retrieve a saved search and run it across more than one of the EBSCOhost databases, such as CINAHL and Medline, at the same time. 

Embase and Maternity and Infant Care (Ovid)

The video and written guidance below explains how to create a personal account and how to save, re-run and share searches in the Ovid databases.

Exporting your search from the EBSCOhost databases (CINAHL, Medline) into Word

The videos and written guides below show how to export your search strategy into Word using a PC/laptop or an iPad. 

Exporting your search from the Ovid databases (Embase, Maternity and Infant Care) into Word

The video and written guidance below explains how to export your search strategy into Word when using the Ovid databases. 

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