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Table 1 Example search strategy for Ovid MEDLINE

From: The current use of feasibility studies in the assessment of feasibility for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trials: a systematic review

 1. “pilot*”.mp

 2. “feasibil*”.mp

 3. 1 OR 2

 4. “step* wedge*”.mp

 5. “step*wedge*”.mp

 6. “delay* intervention”.mp

 7. “experimental* staged introduction”.mp

 8. (“one* direction* crossover design” OR “one* direction* cross* over design”).mp

 9. (“incremental* recruitment” OR “incremental* introduction” OR “incremental* implementation” OR “incremental* allocation”).mp

 10. (“phased* recruitment” OR “phased* introduction” OR “phased* implementation” OR “phased* allocation”).mp

 11. (“staggered* recruitment” OR “staggered* introduction” OR “staggered* implementation” OR “staggered*allocation”).mp

 12. (“stepwise* recruitment” OR “stepwise* introduction” OR “stepwise* implementation” OR “stepwise*allocation”).mp

 13. (“step*wise* recruitment” OR “step*wise* introduction” OR “step*wise* implementation” OR “step*wise*allocation”).mp

 14. (“delayed* recruitment” OR “delayed* introduction” OR “delayed* implementation” OR “delayed*allocation”).mp

 15. or/4–14

 16. 3 AND 15

 17. limit 16 to English language

  1. * truncation symbol, for example "pilot*" retrieves "pilots" as well as "pilot"