Translating search strategies (updated)

This is an update of a post from November 2015.If you are doing a systematic review, you will need to run the same search in more than one database.I use the term " translation " for the process of modifying a search so that it works in another database.It is important to run the same search in all databases.So, if you have a search that works in Ovid Medline, what do you need to change to make it work in another database like PsycINFO or Embase?  Those other databases have different features or functionality.There are three areas where translation is necessary, once you have finalised your strategy:Search syntax – phrase searching, proximity, truncation, field searchingSubject headingsLimitsHere are some pointers.    For detailed help, consult the help files of the database itself.Search syntaxPhrase searchingOvid will assume that the keyword heart disease is the phrase heart disease. NHS databases, Cochrane, Web of Science and PsycINFO via Ebsco will not assume this and will treat the keyword as if it was heart AND disease.  To force a phrase search, put the phrase in double quotes (speech marks):" heart disease " .Proximity operatorsA proximity operator finds one keyword next to another, or one within a specified number of words of the other.So, in Ovid Medline:heart adj diseasefinds the word heart next to the word disease, in that order.   (This is the same as searching for the phrase, of course)heart adj2 diseasefinds the word he...
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