Systematic reviews: Librarian co-authorship

SVHM staff planning to publish a systematic review can apply for a research librarian to co-author. This role focuses on developing and running structured searches across multiple bibliographic databases and recording and writing up the methodology for publication.

Please note that due to staffing limitations and the significant time commitment (approx 30 hours) required for a systematic review we are not able to accept all requests, and we cannot promise a quick turnaround.

In order to be considered, review teams need to:

• include at least two authors committed to spending significant time on screening records (not just a supervisory role);
• demonstrate a serious commitment to publish following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines or an agreed equivalent;
• undertake to register a protocol with PROSPERO or equivalent (can be after applying for librarian co-authorship, but before screening);
• have sufficient funds to enable publishing. Library staff cannot contribute financially to any publishing costs. 

We are unable to co-author reviews where applicants are expected to design search strategies themselves for educational purposes (such as advanced coursework, Masters or College qualifications). In those situations we offer searching and EndNote tutorials, as well as access to Covidence software.

Staff planning a systematic review as part of a PhD need to keep in mind:

• librarian co-authorship needs to be explicitly approved by any supervisor and university before applying 
• the professional time commitment for a librarian throughout this process is very significant - about 30 hours on average - and this needs to be realistically factored into any contribution percentage. 

The librarian's role as co-author in a systematic review includes:

• initial consultation with the review team around the subject matter and the librarian's expected role in the paper
• brief scoping searches to identify relevant key terms, subject headings, textwords and phrases
• identification of search terms through text mining programs such as Yale MeSH Analyser & Pubmed PubReMiner (where appropriate)
• consultation with topic experts to confirm definitions and search parameters
• development and refinement of initial search strategy for Ovid Medline
• confirmation of Medline search strategy with topic experts
• translation of Medline search strategy to other relevant databases such as Emcare, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and the Cochrane Library. 
• running searches in appropriate databases
• recording databases searched, detailed search strategies, date of last search and number of results
• export of search results to Endnote
• removal of duplicate citations in Endnote
• provision of deduped citations in a compressed Endnote library
• initial draft of PRISMA flowchart including search results
• access to Covidence systematic review software
• uploading results to Covidence
• answering queries re search methodology
• teaching team members/research assistants how to source full text articles for full text review stage (please note that sourcing full text articles is not part of this role, but library staff can teach you how to do this yourself)
• updating searches on request
• writing search methodology for publication
• proofreading drafts and providing feedback within the librarian's area of expertise
• response to reviewers as appropriate
• other relevant consultations with the research team in accordance with the librarian's expertise

Application form (SVHM staff only)

1. Lipszyc, A. C., Walker, S. C. D., Beech, A. P., Wilding, H., & Akhlaghi, H. (2024). Predicting Fluid Responsiveness Using Carotid Ultrasound in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 10.1213
2. Sankaranarayanan, A., Ramanathan, P., Mathew, R., Wilding, H., & Castle, D. (2024). Disordered gambling among people with psychotic disorders: a systematic review. Schizophrenia, 10(1), 4.
3. Lovett, G. C., Schulberg, J. D., Hamilton, A. L., Wilding, H. E., Kamm, M. A., & Wright, E. K. (2023). Intestinal Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Monitoring Therapeutic Response in Luminal Crohn’s Disease. A Systematic Review. Journal of the American College of Radiology.
4. Rizvi, F., Wilding, H. E., Rankin, N. M., Le Gautier, R., Gurren, L., Sundararajan, V., . . . Philip, J. (2023). An evidence-base for the implementation of hospital-based palliative care programs in routine cancer practice: A systematic review. Palliative Medicine, 
5. Yu, N., Sriranganathan, D., Walker, G. J., Sazonovs, A., Wilding, H., Roberts, C., . . . Segal, J. P. (2023). Prevalence of NUDT15 genetic variants and incidence of thiopurine-induced leukopenia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Crohns Colitis
6. Mikocka-Walus, A., Evans, S., Linardon, J., Wilding, H., & Knowles, S. R. (2023). Psychotherapy appears to improve symptoms of functional dyspepsia and anxiety: systematic review with meta-analysis. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 28(5), 1309-1335. 
7. Yang, L. S., Perry, E., Shan, L., Wilding, H., Connell, W., Thompson, A. J., . . . Holt, B. A. (2022). Clinical application and diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence in colonoscopy for inflammatory bowel disease: systematic review. Endosc Int Open, 10(07), E1004-E1013. 
8. Chong, T. W. H., Kootar, S., Wilding, H., Berriman, S., Curran, E., Cox, K. L., . . . Lautenschlager, N. T. (2022). Exercise interventions to reduce anxiety in mid-life and late-life anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety disorder: a systematic review. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 12, 
9. Marco, D. J.-T., Thomas, K., Ivynian, S., Wilding, H., Parker, D., Tieman, J., & Hudson, P. (2022). Family carer needs in advanced disease: systematic review of reviews. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
10. Schulberg, J. D., Wright, E. K., Holt, B. A., Wilding, H. E., Hamilton, A. L., Ross, A. L., & Kamm, M. A. (2021). Efficacy of drug and endoscopic treatment of Crohn's disease strictures: A systematic review. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 36(2), 344-361. 
11. Sankaranarayanan, A., Johnson, K., Mammen, S.J., Wilding, H. E., Vasani, D., Murali, V., Mitchison, D., Castle, D. J., Hay, P. (2021) Disordered Eating among People with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 13(11), 3820. 
12. Möller, S. P., Hayes, B., Wilding, H., Apputhurai, P., Tye-Din, J. A., & Knowles, S. R. (2021). Systematic review: Exploration of the impact of psychosocial factors on quality of life in adults living with coeliac disease. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 147, 110537. 
13. Leigh Edward, K., Stanley, B., Collins, L., Norman, A., Bonomo, Y., Jackson, A., Wilding, H., Stephenson, J. (2021). Systematic review with meta-analysis of opioid use at 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively by opioid naïve orthopaedic surgery patients. Journal of Opioid Management, 17(6). 
14. Jenkins, Z. M., Eikelis, N., Phillipou, A., Castle, D. J., Wilding, H. E., & Lambert, E. A. (2021). Autonomic Nervous System Function in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15(705). 
15. Glynn, H., Möller, S. P., Wilding, H., Apputhurai, P., Moore, G., & Knowles, S. R. (2021). Prevalence and Impact of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Systematic Review. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 
16. Bunzli, S., Choong, E., Shadbolt, C., Wall, L., Nelson, E., Schilling, C., Wilding, H., Lohmander, S., Balogh, Z., Paolucci, F., Clarke, P., Choong, P., Dowsey, M. (2021). Placebo Surgery Controlled Trials: Do They Achieve What They Set Out to do? A Systematic Review. Annals of surgery, 273(6), 1102-1107.
17. Hayes, B., Moller, S., Wilding, H., Burgell, R., Apputhurai, P., & Knowles, S. R. (2020). Application of the common sense model in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 139, 110283. 
18. Moore, G., Wilding, H., Gray, K., & Castle, D. (2019). Participatory Methods to Engage Health Service Users in the Development of Electronic Health Resources: Systematic Review. J Participat Med, 11(1), e11474.
19. Hanratty, D., Kilicaslan, J., Wilding, H., & Castle, D. (2019). A systematic review of efficacy of Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) in managing suicide risk and deliberate self-harm in adult populations. Australasian Psychiatry, 
20. Sankaranarayanan, A., Wilding, H., Neill, E., & Castle, D. (2018). A Critical Systematic Review of Evidence for Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Schizophrenia. Psychiatric Annals, 48(5), 214-223.
21. Knowles, S. R., Graff, L. A., Wilding, H., Hewitt, C., Keefer, L., & Mikocka-Walus, A. (2018). Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses—Part I. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 24(4), 742-751. 
22. Knowles, S. R., Keefer, L., Wilding, H., Hewitt, C., Graff, L. A., & Mikocka-Walus, A. (2018). Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses—Part II. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 24(5), 966-976. 
23. Doyle, E., Simmance, N., Wilding, H., & Porter, J. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analyses of foodservice interventions and their effect on nutritional outcomes and satisfaction of adult oncology patients. Nutrition & Dietetics, 74(2), 116-128. 
24. Phillipou, A., Rossell, S. L., Wilding, H. E., & Castle, D. J. (2016). Randomised Controlled Trials of Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Systematic Review. Psychiatry Research, 245, 179-185.
25. Petty, S. J., Wilding, H., & Wark, J. D. (2016). Osteoporosis Associated with Epilepsy and the Use of Anti-Epileptics—a Review. Current Osteoporosis Reports, 14(2), 54-65.
26. Sankaranarayanan, A., Mancuso, S., Wilding, H., Ghuloum, S., & Castle, D. (2015). Smoking, Suicidality and Psychosis: A Systematic Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE, 10(9), e0138147.

Please read this page first so that you understand the librarian's role as a co-author. 

Apply here (SVHM staff only)

Helen Wilding, Senior Research Librarian

Carl de Gruchy Library, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Helen.Wilding@svha.org.au

Literature Searching, Systematic Reviews, Mental Health liaison 
Thursdays, Fridays & alternate Wednesdays
Helen's profile | Researchgate | Orcid