The Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting (COS-STAR) is a latest guide tool made by Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) group. It can enhance the transparency and completeness of Core Outcome Set (COS) report. This paper introduces the generation process, report items and application of COS-STAR to provide reference for domestic similar researches.
ObjectivesTo introduce the formulating methods and implementing steps of search strategy of systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analysis (MAs) of animal experiments, so as to provide a reference for domestic related researchers, and promote the development and implementation of high quality SRs/MAs of animal experiments in China. MethodsPubMed, EMbase and CNKI databases were searched online to retrieve studies on the search strategy of SRs/ MAs of animal experiments from inception to October 2017. A descriptive analysis was then conducted using the evidence-based medicine theory and method.ResultsA total of 5 studies were included. The 5 basic steps on how to design and carry out comprehensive search strategies to identify potentially relevant animal experiments on a specific research question were as follow: 1) Formulate research question; 2) Identify appropriate databases and sources of studies; 3) Transform research question into search strategy; 4) Collect search results and remove duplicates; 5) Identify potentially relevant papers. The report of search strategy needs to state its search method and search results clearly.ConclusionThese 5 steps can provide an effective method, which will assist researchers in performing a comprehensive literature search.
