SEARCH STRATEGIES | Innovative strategies and implementation science approaches for health delivery among migrants in humanitarian settings: a scoping review

Abstract

A search of the literature was conducted by a health sciences informationist (GKR) in October 2022 and a search update was implemented in February 2024. Eight scholarly databases were searched: MEDLINE (via Ovid interface), EMBASE (via Embase.com), CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, PsycINFO (via EBSCOhost), Web of Science Core Collection (via Thomson Reuters), CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) in Cochrane Library (via Wiley) and the Cochrane Covid-19 Study Register (via Wiley). Keywords and controlled vocabulary search terms were used to represent the three main search concepts: 1) displaced persons; 2) humanitarian settings: and 3) health care delivery or disease management. The three main search concepts were combined to develop the final search strategies. Test searching was used to determine variation in controlled vocabulary terminology and search syntax. A revised version of University of Alberta's refugee camps search hedge for Ovid MEDLINE was utilized in each database search [1]. Search results were limited to English or Spanish articles published from 2000 to February 2024 in six of the eight databases. Language limits were not used in the search of the CENTRAL; and language or year limits were not required for the search implemented in the Cochrane Covid-19 Study Register.

A total number of 10,857 citations were exported to the citation manager EndNote (Clarivate Analytics) for processing and removal of duplicate articles. After removal of duplicates using a variation on the Bramer method [2], 7,795 citations were exported to the evidence synthesis screening tool Rayyan [3] for assessment and initial screening. Due to the comprehensive search strategies implemented, keywords needed in the search strategy, and complexity of displaced person status, it was not always possible to clearly differentiate between articles addressing displaced persons in humanitarian settings from those with resettlement experiences during the search process. As such, a higher proportion of literature not relevant to this review was retrieved. Articles addressing resettlement experiences were removed in the initial screening. __________________________________ 1. Campbell, SM. A Hedge to Retrieve Studies that Include Refugee Camps from the Ovid MEDLINE Database. John W. Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta. Rev. March 30, 2022. Available: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MfgnILnxqwYbzXZkGDFYY-Y6IoPJH2C-yNvk8-NVom4/edit [Accessed 10 December 2023] __________________________________

2. Bramer WM, Giustini D, de Jonge GB, Holland L, Bekhuis T. De-duplication of database search results for systematic reviews in EndNote [published correction appears in J Med Libr Assoc. 2017 Jan;105(1):111]. J Med Libr Assoc. 2016;104(3):240-243. doi:10.3163/1536-5050.104.3.014 _________________________________

3. Ouzzani M, Hammady H, Fedorowicz Z, Elmagarmid A. Rayyan-a web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2016;5(1):210. Published 2016 Dec 5. doi:10.1186/s13643-016-0384-4 ________________________________