LIt.search: fast tracking access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health literature

Abstract

Objective: To develop and validate a PubMed search filter, LIt.search, that automatically retrieves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health literature, and to make it publicly accessible through the Lowitja Institute website. Methods: Search filter development phases included: (a) scoping of the publication characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Start Islander literature, (b) Advisory Group input and review, (c) systematic identification and testing of MeSH and text word terms, (d) relevance assessment of the search filter’s retrieved items, and (e) translation for use in PubMed through the web. Results: Scoping study analyses demonstrated complexity in the nature and use of possible search terms and publication characteristics. The search filter achieved a recall rate of 83.1% in the test set. To determine real world performance, post-hoc assessment of items retrieved by the search filter in PubMed was undertaken with 87.1% of articles deemed as relevant. The search filter was constructed as a series of URL hyperlinks to enable one-click searching. Conclusion: LIt.search is a search tool that facilitates research into practice for improving outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and is publicly available on the Lowitja Institute website.