Systematic searching: Managing references

Collecting and managing references

Reference management software

• References can be collected directly from most databases, either as direct imports or in file format. The database manuals describe how to export references from different databases to a reference management software.
• Reference management software can search for duplicates, i.e. identical references, in search results.
• References can be organised in folders.
• Folders and editing rights can also be shared with others.
• It is easy to go from the reference management software to the full text using the linking service.
• Bibliographies and in-text citations can be created using different citation styles.
• For your writing work, you can download Word plug-ins that make referencing easy.
• There are many different types of reference management software. Examples of free of charge software include Mendeley and Zotero.

Systematic review tools

• Systematic Review Toolbox is a web-based catalogue of tools that support various tasks within the systematic review process.
• The Covidence tool is available to the staff and students of Oulu University and Oamk.
• The SUMARI tool, part of the Joanna Briggs Institute's Evidence Based Practice database, is available to staff and students of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.
• References can be uploaded to review tools by creating text files directly from databases or by downloading references from reference management software.
• Duplicates, i.e. identical references from different databases, can be checked by the review tools. In many cases the check is done automatically.
• Review tools can store background information for the review, such as the search strategy.
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria can be recorded for the review process.
• The review tool allows a smooth workflow at different stages of the review process for everyone involved in the reviews. Everyone has to review the references both at the abstract-title stage and at the full-text stage, if the review process is configured to do so.
• The review tools provide tools for assessing the quality of studies, classifying them and recording observations.
• In general, the PRISMA flow chart of the process can be downloaded from the review tool. 

• The PRISMA 2020 statement provides guidance on how to report a systematic review. It consists of a 27-item checklist and flow charts to report on the progress of the selection process.
  
• The PRISMA Flow diagram is an established way of describing the process of selecting search results. The template can be downloaded from the PRISMA Statement website. It can also be created using the ShinyApp application. PRISMA Flowchart is generated automatically by many systematic review management applications.
• It should be kept in mind that PRISMA is not a  manual for undertaking a systematic review but a reporting guideline.