Das TARCiS Statement: Eine Leitlinie zur Terminologie, Durchführung und Berichterstattung von Zitationssuchen

A cornerstone of evidence-based healthcare are evidence syntheses based on systematic literature searches. Conducting literature searches of high methodological quality requires the informed use of specific search techniques. Beyond text based searching in electronic databases, citation searching can be utilised either as standalone or supplementary technique to identify relevant publications. Despite being used for decades, the terminology, methodology and reporting of citation searching have not been standardised yet. We conducted an evidence guided, four round Delphi consensus study with 27 international methodological experts to develop guidance for citation searching in the context of systematic literature searches. The resulting Terminology, Application, and Reporting of Citation Searching (TARCiS) statement comprises ten recommendations on when and how to conduct and report citation searching, each with a rationale and explanation. In addition, four research priorities are presented. We recommend anyone doing systematic reviews or appraising their reporting to incorporate TARCiS into their standardised workflows.