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Table 3 Performance of search terms and filters designed for retrieving systematic reviews in CINAHL

From: An optimal search filter for retrieving systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Search filter

Sensitivity*

Specificity**

Precision

Number needed to read

health-evidence.ca

health-evidence.ca SR search filter

89.9 (93.5, 94.0)

97.6 (97.6, 97.6)

1.8 (1.6, 1.8)

57.2 (54.7, 61.7)

Wong, et. al (2006)

Best sensitivity query

96.1 (91.2, 98.3)

94.6 (94.6, 94.6)

0.8 (0.8, 0.8)

120.8 (118, 127.7)

‘Small drop in sp, substantive gain in sensitivity’ query

45 (36.7, 53.6)

95.3 (95.3, 95.3)

0.5 (0.4, 0.5)

235.3 (193.9, 296.4)

Best optimization (sensitivity > specificity) query

50.4 (42, 58.8)

99.4 (99.4, 99.4)

3.8 (3.2, 4.5)

26.3 (22.5, 31.6)

Best specificity query

47.3 (38.9, 55.8)

99.4 (99.4, 99.4)

3.5 (2.8, 4.1)

29.1 (24.7, 35.5)

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination Filter

98.4 (94.5, 99.6)

94.0 (94.0, 94.0)

0.8 (0.7, 0.8)

130.4 (128.9, 136.2)

McKibbon (1998)

78.3 (70.5, 84.5)

98.9 (98.9, 98.9)

3.2 (2.9, 3.4)

31.7 (29.3, 35.2)

  1. Values are in percentages (95% confidence intervals).
  2. * Validation data set (n = 129).
  3. ** Validation data set (n = 272264).
  4. Abbreviations: SR – systematic review.