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Table 6 Performance of MEDLINE and EMBASE Filters

From: Identifying observational studies of surgical interventions in MEDLINE and EMBASE

Filter

Retrieved

Sensitivity % (95% CI)

Precision % (95%CI)

Specificity % (95% CI)

 

Reference Standard

Total

% Reduction

   

MEDLINE

      

No filter

206

1564

-

100.0

13.2 (11.5–14.9)

 

Precision

205

979

37.4

99.5 (98.5–100.)

20.9 (18.4–23.4)

42.9 (40.3–45.5)

Specificity

205

972

37.9

99.5 (98.5–100.)

21.1 (18.5–23.7)

43.5 (40.4–46.6)

EMBASE

      

No filter

191

1521

-

100.0

12.6 (10.9–14.3)

 

Precision

191

1065

30.0

100.0

17.9 (15.6–20.2)

35.3 (32.7–37.9)

Specificity

191

1016

33.2

100.0

18.8 (16.4–21.2)

38.0 (35.1–39.8)

MEDLINE/EMBASE

      

No filter

217

1959

-

100.0

11.1 (9.7–12.5)

 

Precision

217

1298

33.8

100.0

16.7 (14.7–18.7)

37.9 (35.3–40.5)

Specificity

217

1266

35.4

100.0

17.1 (15.0–19.2)

39.8 (37.1–42.5)