Systematic web searching for platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for the sources listed in the Cochrane Handbook: a meta-epidemiological study

Systematic web searching for platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for the sources listed in the Cochrane Handbook: a meta-epidemiological study | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 3 April 2026 V3 Latest version Share on Systematic web searching for platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for the sources listed in the Cochrane Handbook: a meta-epidemiological study Authors : Giorgio Cacciatore 0000-0001-6599-3048 [email protected] , Alessandro Ugolini , and Chiarella Sforza Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176476517.72583067/v3 430 views 107 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Objectives Primary objective To collect platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for the sources listed in the Cochrane Handbook, through systematic web searching. Secondary objective To assess the reporting quality of these data on the websites of organizations providing the sources. Methods Active sources listed in either the Main Text or Technical Supplement of Cochrane Handbook Chapter 4 were included. Google Search in Incognito mode, websites of organizations providing the sources, and relevant individuals and organizations were systematically searched up to 29 October 2025. The web was searched using three complementary strategies: search box, handsearching, and text mining. For each source, the following data were collected: multiple service providers and platforms, homepage URL, basic and advanced search URLs (only for free sources), date of coverage, year of launch, and detailed methods for record retrieval, with contributing founts considered the primary method. The reporting of the collected data was assessed using an original method conceptually similar to the revised Cochrane “Risk of Bias” tool for randomised trials (RoB 2.0). Data-level judgements informed an overall judgement about reporting (not reported, unclear, reported, not applicable, free/charged or charged). Results Overall, 82 sources and 156 source–platform combinations were included. A comprehensive table including platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data was provided. Service providers, platforms, homepage URLs, and basic search URLs, were reported in most cases (97.2–100.0%), whereas advanced search URLs appeared in just over half of the combinations (57.1%). Time coverage and related data were the least frequently and clearly reported (not reported: 37.8%; unclear: 9.8%). Within the domain of time coverage, the year of launch was the least frequently reported (not reported: 62.8%), followed by date of coverage (25.6%), and methods/founts (25.0%). Conversely, methods/founts were the least clearly reported (unclear: 17.9%), followed by date of coverage (7.7%), and year of launch (3.8%). Conclusions A comprehensive table including platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for 82 sources and 156 source–platform combinations listed in the Cochrane Handbook was provided. The reporting of the date of coverage and methods for record retrieval by the organizations providing the sources was suboptimal and sometimes unclear. Providers should be encouraged to report source data more transparently and consistently on their websites. Supplementary Material File (main text.docx) Download 202.60 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 03 December 2025 V2 Version 2 01 April 2026 V3 Version 3 03 April 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords cochrane handbook data reporting information sources prisma statement systematic reviews web searching Authors Affiliations Giorgio Cacciatore 0000-0001-6599-3048 [email protected] Universita degli Studi di Milano Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute View all articles by this author Alessandro Ugolini Universita degli Studi di Genova Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Diagnostiche Integrate View all articles by this author Chiarella Sforza Universita degli Studi di Milano Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 430 views 107 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Giorgio Cacciatore, Alessandro Ugolini, Chiarella Sforza. Systematic web searching for platforms, URLs, time coverage, and related data for the sources listed in the Cochrane Handbook: a meta-epidemiological study. Authorea . 03 April 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176476517.72583067/v3 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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