Preprint Pointers From a Long COVID Scoping Review: Considerations for Source Selection and Searching

Abstract

This paper describes the search approach for preprints for a post–COVID-19 condition (i.e., long COVID) scoping review, including source selection, search strategy development, challenges, and insights throughout a project life cycle. With the growth of medical preprints since the COVID-19 pandemic, information professionals and researchers should be aware that preprints are a possible source of evidence and be prepared to manage them in evidence reviews for COVID-19 topics and beyond.

Preprints are not peer reviewed but can include important evidence about emerging topics. Because of the importance of preprints to the first stage of the scoping review, a preprint search of Europe PubMed Central (PMC) was added. Europe PMC and similar aggregators combine multiple preprint servers and often have Boolean search, but sometimes limited search functionalities or export options. Strategy translation encountered challenges such as varying and inconsistent terminology for post–COVID-19 condition, a complex search, and negotiating large numbers of preprints with resource constraints. The final preprints search in Europe PMC identified more preprints for inclusion in from additional preprint servers. A summary of considerations will support information specialists conducting preprint searches for COVID-19 and other topics.