Advice
Search strategy and evidence selection
Search strategy
A search was conducted to identify evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of the Mersey Burns app.
The strategy was developed in MEDLINE (Ovid). The strategy was devised using a combination of subject indexing terms and free text search terms that described the indication and free text search terms that specifically related to the technology. No limits were applied to the search.
The strategy was adapted for the following databases: Medline in Process, Embase, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL, CDSR, DARE, HTA, NHS EED), EconLit, Pubmed ('epub ahead of press' search only of key terms), Scopus and Web of Science (Web of Science – Science Citation Index and Conference Proceedings Citation Index‑ Science). The searches returned a total of 24 references after duplicate removal.
Information supplied by the company and also the company's website were checked for relevant studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) were searched to identify ongoing or in‑development trials.
Evidence selection
Retrieved results were independently sifted by 2 researchers. From the 24 records obtained from the searches, 4 records were identified that related to Mersey Burns: 2 full‑text study reports; 1 conference abstract and a review of smartphone apps for burns. The conference abstract was excluded as the data was reported in 1 of the full‑text study reports.