Development and validation of a MEDLINE search filter/hedge for degenerative cervical myelopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common condition with many unmet clinical needs. Pooled analysis of studies is an important tool for advancing medical understanding. This process starts with a systematic search of the literature. Identification of studies in DCM is challenged by a number of factors, including non-specific terminology and index terms. Search filters or HEDGEs, are search strings developed and validated to optimise medical literature searches. We aimed to develop a search filter for DCM for the MEDLINE database.

Methods

The diagnostic test assessment framework of a "development dataset" and seperate "validation dataset" was used. The development dataset was formed by hand searching four leading spinal journals (Spine, Journal of Neurosur

SUBMITTER: Davies BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6034255 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature