Follow these steps for a successful search:
1. Identify key concepts and think of synonyms for each concept.
2. Build search statements using AND, OR, and sometimes NOT.
3. Choose the right databases and resources to search.
4. Chat with a Librarian if you get stuck or need any help!
Search strategy worksheets help you think through your research questions and keep track of successful and unsuccessful searches.
In order for your systematic review to be reproducible, it is important to keep track of the search strategy you use for each database. That way, someone else can verify your research.
Furthermore, a spreadsheet helps you keep track of the total number of duplicates for your project as well as the number of duplicates from each database searched.
Finally, PRISMA recommends you report at least one search strategy in your published manuscript, so keeping track of it in a spreadsheet will help you when you write your manuscript.