Updating the database searches
There are different methods that you can use to update your searches, and they are usually database-specific. What you are trying to do is avoid screening the same records all over again.
One method is to restrict records to those entered into the database on or after the date you last ran the search (note: this is NOT the publication date, this is the date the record was added to the database, and this date field is not available in all databases).
This can be done in PubMed, MEDLINE on Ovid, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and APA PsycInfo (as well as others), but unfortunately the entry date is not available as a search field in all databases.
Please note: The field codes are subject to change and we strongly suggest checking the database information, particularly at the beginning of a new year, when indexing changes are more likely to occur. Please also let us know if you identify issues with these codes at sysreview@umn.edu
This table was last updated March 16, 2021 (CINAHL)
| Database | Platform | Suggested search fields | Example of a search last run on July 1, 2019 and updated on March 16, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEDLINE (field code info) | Ovid | .dt,ez,da. (Create Date, Entrez date; Entry date) |
(201907* OR 201908* OR 201909* OR 20191* OR 202*).dt,ez,da. (da refers to the date that MeSH are added and may increase duplicates but can identify indexed records previously missed by textword searching) |
| PubMed (field code info) | - | CRDT OR EDAT OR MHDA |
#x AND ("2019/07/01"[CRDT] : "3000"[CRDT] OR "2019/07/01"[EDAT] : "3000"[EDAT] OR "2019/07/01"[MHDA] : "3000"[MHDA]) (MHDA refers to the date that MeSH are added and may increase duplicates but can identify indexed records previously missed by textword searching) |
| APA PsycInfo (field code info) | Ovid | .up. |
limit x to up=20190701-20210316 |
| Embase (field code info) | Ovid | .dc. | limit x to dc=20190701-20210316 |
| CINAHL (field code info) | EBSCOHost | ZD | ZD (201907* OR 201908* OR 201909* OR 20191* OR 202* OR "in process") |
| Scopus | - | ORIG-LOAD-DATE AFT | ORIG-LOAD-DATE AFT 20190630 |
| Web of Science Core Collection | - | LD |
Select Index Date: 2019-07-01 to 2021-03-16 OR From Advanced Search Query Builder > Query Preview: LD=(2019-07-01/2021-03-16) |
| CENTRAL/Trials | Cochrane Library/Wiley | Use "Date" filter | View search results / Select Trials tab > Under "Filter your results" (left column), enter date range ("Date added to CENTRAL trials database") as custom range 01/07/2019 to 16/03/2021 |
This page is recreated from Systematic Reviews, Scoping Reviews, and other Knowledge Syntheses LibGuide by Genevieve Gore and Jill Boruff of McGill Library which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. We gratefully acknowledge the tremendous work of these colleagues in the creation and updating of this guide.