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Using EndNote for Systematic Reviews

Before using EndNote for a systematic review we recommend ensuring that you are familar with its basic functions by either attending one of our scheduled training sessions, or by working through the self directed training activities . It is also important to be aware of how the various steps in a systematic review should be recorded and reported. 

If you are carrying out a systematic review or any literature review project where you need to take a systematic and transparent approach to conducting and reporting your search, this will require accurate documentation of all stages of your review process. EndNote is one piece of software which can support you with this. 

Typically, a systematic review will follow the PRISMA reporting standards and these include minimal reporting standards of the search and screening process to ensure transparency. EndNote can help you with the recording and reporting process for this by allowing you to store large numbers of references and providing methods for organising those references.  The following sections provide advice over EndNote's key functionality to support you with the process. You can also follow the step by step process below. 

  • Step by step process
  • Backing up and maintaining your Library

Tagging references with the name of a database

  • Removing duplicates from a large EndNote Library

Screening references for relevance using EndNote

Sharing your endnote library, exporting your endnote library to other screening software, creating a random sample set from your endnote library.

  • Using EndNote to update a search

Using EndNote for your systematic review: Step by step

Once you've finalised your database searches in your different databases you'll be ready to export the records into EndNote. 

  • Create a new Endnote Library , saving it onto a local drive (not a network drive or cloud storage).
  • Import journal terms lists for your discipline if available.
  • Export records  from your databases one by one. If you anticipate a large number of records and wish to follow the  deduplication method described by Jane Falconer then you should export the records from your databases in the order specified by the method. 
  • Back up your EndNote library - you will need to do this at regular intervals during the process.
  • Create a group for each database and move the imported references from each database into them. 
  • Add keywords to your references with the appropriate database name using the Name of Database field- this can be useful later on.  Create a back up of your library and make a record of the number of records from each database for PRISMA reporting.
  • Remove duplicate records . We recommend using EndNote for this as it allows absolute control over the process, but note that some screening software have automatic deduplication available within them. Create a back up of your library and make a record of the number of duplicate records for the PRISMA flowchart.
  • Screen by title and abstract  in EndNote or specialist screening software to exclude any obviously irrelevant records. If you are unsure, do not exclude the record, and carry it through to the full text screening stage.
  • Retrieve full text documents . EndNote's Find full text function will help. Don't forget you can make use of our Interlending and document supply services to access materials from other library services. Record numbers for PRISMA.
  • Screen the full text documents applying your inclusion and exclusion criteria. Record exclusion reasons in EndNote (you can use groups, custom fields or the research notes field to assist with this) or screening software.  Record also in the PRISMA flowchart. 
  • Updating your searches . If it has been over 12 months between performing your searches and publishing your review then it is advisible to update your searches before your review is published. EndNote can help you to identify new records published since your original search.

Backing up and maintaining your library

We strongly recommend that you create compressed backups of your EndNote Library at various key stages during your systematic review, and you can do so following these instructions.

  • Backing up your EndNote library

Create a folder for your library back up copies to be stored in and give your back up copies a consistant name so that you can easily identify the stage your library was at and the date it was last worked on e.g. "2021-04-29 Systematic Review Duplicates Removed". You will not typically need to access these back up libraries, but they act as a safety net in case you want to re-visit your search records from an earlier stage of your review (i.e. before duplicates were removed), or in case your working library is damaged/corrupted.

If you are frequently moving between different computers,  synchronise your working library  with EndNote Web. Note that you can only sync one EndNote Desktop library to any EndNote Web / EndNote Online Classic account, so only sync your main working library. If you attempt to sync a different library you will get an error message.

The main stages of the review where you should make compressed back up copies are:

  • After export from all databases and before duplicates are removed.
  • After all duplicates are removed.
  • Any other point after you have undertaken a substantial amount of work in your library, for example when you have screened many references.
  • Before attempting to do something major to your library e.g., find full text for a large number of references.
  • Some people may like to make a daily back up. If you are doing this you should overwrite previous daily back ups so that you do not end up with hundreds of back up libraries.

It can be useful to keep track of which database a record was originally downloaded from. Sometimes records include this within the Name of Database field, but this is very variable.

When you first import your references it is useful to create a Tag or Group for each database. You can also include these numbers in your PRISMA flowchart.

If using Groups, you may not want to maintain these original groups if you are screening using EndNote (many people screen from unfiled references), so to create a permanent record of where a record originated from you can use the Change/Move/Copy Fields Tool to add a keyword to your references with the name of the database they came from. 

  • Select the group of references which you wish to add a keyword with the database name. e.g. Medline.
  • Follow the instructions to perform a bulk edit of references to replace the Name of Database field. 
  • Instructions to bulk edit references

Removing duplicates from a large EndNote Library

EndNote has an inbuilt deduplication function that can be used to help you to identify and remove duplicates. You can edit the fields that EndNote checks to find duplicates in  Preferences . Duplicates can be sent to the Trash or you can create a group for them. 

If you have a very large EndNote Library then we recommend that you follow the steps outlined in the link below by Jane Falconer from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which offers a time saving method to remove duplicates.

  • Removing duplicates from an EndNote library

Don't forget to make a compressed back up of your EndNote Library before you start to remove duplicates and ensure you have a record of the total number of references before duplicates are removed for your PRISMA flowchart. 

You can use Groups to help you screen references within EndNote. Bramer, Milic and Mast have proposed detailed methods on how to do this, including how to compare EndNote libraries where there are multiple reviewers involved in the screening process. 

  • Reviewing retrieved references for inclusion in systematic reviews using EndNote Bramer, W. M., Milic, J., & Mast, F. (2017). 'Reviewing retrieved references for inclusion in systematic reviews using EndNote', Journal of the Medical Library Association 105(1), pp84–87. doi: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017. This paper describes the logistics of a method to perform the title and abstract screening, verdict assignment, and comparisons of results among multiple reviewers in EndNote. The process is blinded; all reviewers work in their own EndNote files, and after the individual inclusion and exclusion processes, the verdicts of the different reviewers are compared.

If you're working with other researchers on a review, you may need to share your EndNote library.

If you want to perform blind screening of references then library sharing will not be suitable as you can see the changes made by others. Blind screening can either take place in separate EndNote libraries or you can consider using screening software instead. 

  • Sharing your EndNote library.
  • Using separate EndNote libraries for blind screening
  • Screening software options

You may want to use a screening software for the screening stage of your review, especially if you are working in a team with multiple reviewers.Software can make screening with multiple reviewers more straightforward. 

You should de-duplicate your EndNote library first before exporting it - some screening software does have deduplication features but they are not considered to be as reliable as using EndNote's deduplication features.

You will need to save all the references from your EndNote library as a RIS file to export it. 

  • Exporting your references into Rayyan
  • Exporting references into EPPI Reviewer
  • Exporting references into Covidence
  • Guide to software for systematic reviews

If you and others are screening your results to determine which ones to use to inform your research study, you might wish to test your screening procedures by getting all researchers involved to screen a random set of 10-20 references to compare results before screening the entire set. Follow these instructions to ensure a truly random selection from your EndNote library.

Create an output filter that exports EndNote record numbers  

  • Open your EndNote Library and go to the  Tools   menu, then   Output Styles  and  New Style.  
  • In the new screen in the left hand panel, select  Templates  under the heading  Bibliography .
  • In the main panel of the same screen, click  Insert Field  and select  Record Number . 
  • Go to the  File menu, select  Save As  and save it as something descriptive like  record-number-only . 

Use the output style to export the record numbers for all the records in your EndNote Library

  • In your EndNote library, click on any reference in the central panel. In the right hand pane click on the summary tab for the reference. At the bottom of the screen use the dropdown showing the referencing style to pick  Select Another Style…  and search for your previously created Output Style. 
  • Then select the  Choose  button and ensure that your output style name is displaying in the dropdown box. 
  • Select EndNote’s  All References  folder to make sure all your references that you want to create a subset from are displayed. Then select one of the references in the middle pane and press ctrl + a (or cmd + a on a Mac) to select all references. 
  • Right-click on the highlighted references and select  Copy Formatted References.  

Randomise the numbers using Excel  

  • Open Excel, and press ctrl + v (or cmd + v on a Mac) to paste all your record numbers into a blank worksheet. 
  • In the cell to the right of your first record number, insert the formula =rand(). This will create a random number from 0 to 100. 
  • Hover the cursor over the bottom-right corner of the cell until it makes a cross. Then click and drag all the way down to the last row that contains a record number.
  • Insert a row at the top and select  Sort & Filter and then  Filter  from the menu bar. 
  • Then, sort the second row (with the random numbers) from smallest to largest (or largest to smallest). 
  • You now have a randomly sorted list. Select and copy the top x number of cells in the first column (however large you want your sample to be). 

Use Excel’s CONCATENATE function to format the numbers so that the associated references can be retrieved  

  • Open a new Excel spreadsheet. 
  • Paste the column of numbers (your sample) into column B of the new spreadsheet. 
  • In cell A1, type {# 
  • In cell C1, type } 
  • Hover the cursor over the bottom-right corner of cell A1 until it makes a cross. Then click and drag all the way down to the last row that contains a record number in column B. 
  • Repeat step 5 for cell C1. 
  • Put your cursor into cell D1. 
  • Enter the following into Excel’s formatting bar: =CONCATENATE(A1,B1,C1)  
  • This will create a number in D1 which will be in the format {#1234} 
  • Hover the cursor over the bottom-right corner of cell D1 until it makes a cross. Then click and drag all the way down to the last row that contains a record number in column B. 
  • Copy the formatted numbers from column D and paste into a Word document as text (not as a table). 
  • Follow the instructions from step 4 on the EndNote How To Community Forum .

Using EndNote to update a literature search

It is advisable to update literature searches before publication if it has been over 12 months since they were originally performed. This ensures the review will be based on the most recent evidence. Updates to published systematic reviews can also be performed to highlight any new evidence that has been published and make changes to recommendations where appropriate.

EndNote can be used to assist with the search update process and we would recommend that researchers follow the method developed by Bramer and Bain in 2017.   

  • Updating search strategies for systematic reviews using EndNote Bramer, W., and Bain, P. (2017). 'Updating search strategies for systematic reviews using EndNote', Journal of the Medical Library Association, 105(3), pp. 285–289. doi:https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017.183

Recording your search strategy and methodology

For more information about how to record your search strategy, review protocol and methodology you can watch this video: Recording the details of your systematic review search .

This video is part of our online Systematic Reviews Searching Lesson . 

  • UCL Library guide to systematic reviews
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After the search, citation management is necessary...

By citation management, we mean managing all the citations (or references) you retrieve from the bibliographic databases (PubMed, etc) or search engines. Typically you would use a bibliographic manager software application to manage the citations. Once you import the references into your application, you can review and weed out those that do not meet your inclusion criteria. You can also annotate the record, and attach or import the full-text PDF into the record.

Use citation management tools for managing the references found during the search process. EndNote is the only one supported at Mayo.

Note: Scroll down to section on 'Screening Tools' for more options.

For more information about the screening process at Mayo Clinic, click here : https://libraryguides.mayo.edu/systematicreviewprocess/screening

Removing duplicate references

Your literature searches may result in thousands of references, many of which may be duplicates and which should not be counted in your systematic review. If you're working with a librarian, he or she will have removed any duplicate references from the EndNote library. If you're not working with a librarian, this resource will guide you through removing the duplicates from your library.

  • Removing duplicates in retrieval sets from electronic databases (2015) PDF of PowerPoint slides which details how to remove duplicates from an EndNote Library.
  • De-duplication of database search results for systematic reviews in EndNote (2016) Article describing how to remove duplicates from an EndNote library.

How to use EndNote for screening and data management

  • Reviewing Retrieved References for Inclusion in Systematic Reviews using EndNote This paper describes the logistics of a method to perform the title and abstract screening, verdict assignment, and comparisons of results among multiple reviewers in EndNote. The process is blinded; all reviewers work in their own EndNote files, and after the individual inclusion and exclusion processes, the verdicts of the different reviewers are compared. The method described here can be performed much faster than comparable methods.
  • Managing and Coding References for Systematic Reviews and Scoping Reviews in EndNote This article describes a novel approach for using EndNote to manage and code references in the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and scoping reviews. The process is simple and easy for reviewers new to both EndNote and systematic reviews.

Below are two YouTube videos from the University of Exeter describing how to use EndNote to double screen and how to merge two duplicate libraries together when double screening for a systematic review.

Screening Tools

"A key step in the review process is the structured extraction of data from eligible primary studies, a procedure that, typically, pairs of reviewers conduct in duplicate and independently. In any systematic review, a crucial task for the project's leader, or in a better-funded situation, a dedicated systematic review coordinator, is managing the data." Read the full article:  Choice of data extraction tools for systematic reviews depends on resources and review complexity . Elamin, MB, Flynn, DN , Bassler, D, et al.  J of Clin Epidemiol 2009; 62(5):5-6-10.

These tools are intended to make the systematic review process more efficient with data management and extraction. You can upload the citation from your citation management program into one of these tools.

  • Abstrackr Free; web-based.
  • Colandr Free, web-based service. A collaborative project between the Science for Nature and People Partnership, Conservation International, and DataKind. more... less... For a review of this resource, see: Tan, M. C. (2018). Colandr. Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Journal De l’Association Des bibliothèques De La Santé Du Canada, 39(2), 85–88. https://doi.org/10.29173/jchla29369
  • Covidence Subscription, web-based service. Mayo Clinic Libraries is now providing access to this product.
  • DistillerSR Subscription required; web-based. Some departments of Mayo Clinic provide access to this product.
  • GRADEpro from Cochrane Free and subscription-based product. Web-based.
  • OpenMeta[Analyst] Free; cross-platform software for advanced meta-analysis.
  • Rayyan Free and subscription available. Web-based. Qatar Computing Research Institute product. more... less... McGill Library's guide on using Rayyan may be helpful - https://libraryguides.mcgill.ca/rayyan/gettingstarted
  • RevMan5 Free for academic use; cross-platform software.
  • Screenatron Free; Bond University product.
  • Systematic Review Data Repository Free; web-based.
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  • Last Updated: May 17, 2024 9:19 AM
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Systematic Review: EndNote for Systematic Reviews

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Using EndNote for systemtic reviews

You can use EndNote to help you manage your references when you are carrying out a systematic review.

There are a number of EndNote features that can help you.

Removing duplicates

You can find and remove duplicate records.

  • Select the All References group
  • Select Library > Find Duplicates
  • You can compare references in two windows side by side  and select which reference you want to keep
  • Alternatively you can click on Cancel from this window and the duplicates will be highlighted immediately.
  • Drag the shaded references to the trash or to another group if you need to keep a note of the de-duplication.

Custom Fields

You can create custom fields to keep comments from reviewers:

  • Select Edit > Preferences then Reference Types .
  • Choose Modify Reference Types button.
  • Scroll down to the Custom Fields (1-8). Some of these may already be in use.
  • Choose an empty Custom Field and enter a name in the box (e.g. Comments)
  • Click on the Apply to All Ref types button then click OK.

modify reference types

To display this field in the library window:

  • Select Edit > Preferences and then Display Fields .
  • A maximum of ten columns can be displayed in the library window.
  • Select a column to change and use the arrow to select the Custom Field (e.g Custom 1) that you created earlier. Enter the name (e.g. Comments) in the Heading box. Click Apply and then OK.

Adding text to multiple records

You can add text to multiple records simultaneously. This can be helpful if you need to identify which databases you searched and the information in the database record is incomplete or blank.

  • Exported references from databases will go into the Imported References group. The Imported References group will only contain the last set of references exported from a database, so it is best to add or change text at this point.
  • Select the Imported References Group.
  • Select Library > Change/Move/Copy Fields.
  • Select the field to change or add the text to (e.g. Name of Database) from the In: drop down menu.
  • Enter the text to be added
  • Choose where you want the text to appear using the Change radio button.

change move copy fields

Sharing libraries

Reviewers can work on a single shared library and have full access to all EndNote features.  EndNote 21 (and EndNote 20.2) allows you to share a library with up to 400 people.  Each collaborator will need EndNote 21 and will also need an EndNote Online account. You may wish to back up the library before sharing. Previous versions of EndNote from X8 onwards allow sharing with up to 100 people or 200 with EndNote 20.1. 

  • Back up your library by selecting File > Compressed Library (.enlx) .
  • Sync your library with EndNote Online by select the Sync Library button .
  • If you don’t have an account, you will be prompted to set up one now.
  • Select File -> Share
  • Enter the email addresses of the other collaborators, choose the permissions  and click on Invite. If you want collaborators to have different permissions, then you will need to set up separate shares (i.e. all those with Read & Write, then all those with Read).
  • Email will be sent to collaborators directing them to a webpage to login to EndNote Online.
  • In EndNote desktop collaborators can then choose File > Open Shared Library .
  • The Activity Feed button shows recent activity on your shared library.

EndNote also allows you to share groups with up to 1,000 people. Collaborators will need an EndNote Online account but they don't need a desktop account. 

  • Highlight the group you wish to share 
  • Select Groups -> Share
  • Enter the email addresses of the other collaborators, choose the permissions and click on invite.

systematic literature review endnote

Exporting references from EndNote to Excel

It is possible to export references from EndNote Desktop to Excel.

Before you start you should make a back-up copy of your EndNote Library.

Exporting references to Excel requires you to create a new output style in EndNote.

Depending on the type of references in your EndNote Library this can be time consuming. If your EndNote Library contains just one type of reference, e.g. just journal articles, the time taken to create a new EndNote output  style will be reduced.

Before you start editing output styles think about the data you will require in Excel. You will almost certainly want the author, publication year and title, do you also need the abstract, journal name, page numbers etc?

Below are links to a video and a guide which explain how to export references from EndNote to Excel:

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  - video

University of Sydney Library  - guide

For further help please contact your Faculty Librarian via [email protected] 

Further help

  • University of Stirling. EndNote: Advanced and Systematic Review LibGuide. http://libguides.stir.ac.uk/endnote/endnoteadvanced
  • University of Southampton. Endnote: Systematic Reviews. http://library.soton.ac.uk/endnote/systematic-reviews
  • The University of Sydney. Exercise and Sport Science Managing Systematic Review Search Results Using EndNote . https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508150&p=3477438
  • Peters, M.D.J. (2017) ‘Managing and Coding References for Systematic Reviews and Scoping Reviews in EndNote’. Medical Reference Services Quarterly , 36 (1), pp. 19-31, doi: 10.1080/02763869.2017.1259891

Bramer, W.M. et. al. (2016) 'De-duplication of database search results for systematic reviews in EndNote'. J Med Libr Assoc.104(3), pp. 240-243, doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.104.3.014

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Tips and Tricks for How to Conduct a Literature Review with Endnote

The literature review is a critical part of any clinical evaluation. It’s where you collect all of your clinical data, analyze it, weigh it, and use it to evaluate the acceptability of your device’s risk-benefit profile.

  For lower-risk devices, most, if not all, of your clinical data will come from the scientific relevant literature and your literature review .   Depending on the project, you might collect hundreds of journal articles. Keeping track of that many citations comes with its challenges.   This article will review how to keep track of your scientific literature and references during your literature review using EndNote.  

What is EndNote?

EndNote is a reference management tool that lets you collect references and citations, import PDFs, and create bibliographies and reference libraries.   It lets you format your citations and bibliographies with more than 6900 formatting styles from journals and professional associations. It also connects to more than 6000 online databases.   EndNote is basically a one-stop shop-shop for references and citations.  

EndNote is a paid program,m and it is not cheap – the full license will cost you $275, while the student license is $150. If a new version of EndNote is released, upgrading will cost you $125 even if you have previously purchased the full license.  

EndNote alternatives

There are other citation managers on the market, both paid and free.  

Menderley by Elsevier is our (free) favorite as it has many of the same basic functionalities of EndNote, such as direct citations in Word and PDF upload.  

Some prefer Excel, which is alright for smaller or simpler literature reviews without many citations or searches. Handling extensive searches and references in Excel can quickly become complex.  

Proprietary software

Lastly, some professional companies specializing in literature reviews have developed their own software to deal with large amounts of references and citations. At Citemed, our proprietary software helps us deal with thousands of references simply and quickly.  

Research process with EndNote

Your search and research process does not change when using EndNote compared to other citation managers or Excel.   Your research question and searches should be performed in precisely the same manner.   However, when it comes to scientific database search results, this is where EndNote shines. Exporting your search results from the database and importing them directly into your EndNote library makes collecting your references in one place a breeze.   Almost all the major literature databases offer citation export. With more than 700 import options, you are sure to find the optimal way to import your references to your citation manager.  

The EndNote library

One of the quirks of EndNote is that you must maintain an EndNote library on your computer. It should not be stored on network drives or the cloud but on the computer.   Because your EndNote library is not stored in a cloud-based drive, we highly recommend backing it up several times during your literature review.   Your backups will act as a safety net in case you need to revisit previous searches or if your library (or, God forbid, your computer) is damaged or corrupted in the midst of your literature review.   We recommend doing library backups at the following stages of your literature review:

  • After importing all your references into EndNote and before duplicates are removed
  • After you’ve removed your duplicates
  • At any point after you’ve screened a large chunk of references or done other major work on your references, such as editing references in case of incomplete citation data
  • Before doing any large pieces of work on your references, such as finding full texts for the majority of your references
  • Some might like to do daily backups at the end of each work day (or at the beginning, we won’t judge you). In this case, it becomes important to name your backups correctly and archive or overwrite previous versions to avoid hundreds of backup files

Keeping track of references during your literature reviews

It can be helpful to track which databases references were originally downloaded from.   We recommend including a listing in your clinical evaluation report of every reference, where it was found, and whether it was included in the clinical evaluation.   Likewise, most notified bodies will expect tables showing the number of search results per search and database, so having an overview of where a reference was exported from is critical.   Sometimes references already include the name of the database it was found in. This is especially true for larger databases, such as PubMed or Embase.   However, citations might not include the source, and then what do you do?   You have two options, and we recommend using both:

  • Edit your references to include the source database
  • Create groups in EndNote for each database

Doing it this way will give you an easy overview of the database results with the groups. Still, you will also see the source in the individual reference, which will be valuable when you review references in your document and not in the EndNote user face.  

Integration with Word

EndNote integrates seamlessly with Word.   The “cite while you write” feature allows you to add references while you, well, write.   Once installed, EndNote will have its own toolbar in Word. The toolbar lets you cite, edit, and manage citations and references.   You can update or configure your citations and annotated bibliography according to your referencing style.   Overall, the EndNote Word interface is easy to use, and you can get citing as soon as you have it installed.   It also includes more advanced features, which take a while to learn. The advanced features might not be needed for basic users, but for professional medical writers or other heavy literature review writers , they are a necessity.  

So, what are the downsides to EndNote?

While EndNote is a fantastic citation manager and literature review tool, it does have a few cons.   First, the price tag can deter even the most hardened professional, especially considering the (free) alternatives out there. However, some companies require references and citations formatted to EndNote and delivery of the entire EndNote library along with the literature review, so not all medical writers can avoid the expense.   Second, the learning curve with EndNote is steep. It is not a simple program, and becoming proficient can take a while.   Third, if you switch between devices frequently, the local EndNote library can quickly become irritating. It requires some extra planning if you primarily use a stationary computer at home or work but sometimes work from a laptop or a tablet when you are out and about.  

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EndNote - How-to

Using endnote for systematic reviews.

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Accurate documentation of each step of your review process is necessary if you're performing a systematic review or any other literature review project that calls for a methodical, transparent approach to completing and reporting your search. One piece of software that can help you with this is EndNote. Understanding the proper format for recording and reporting each step of a systematic review is crucial. The PRISMA reporting criteria , which contain minimal reporting standards of the search and screening process to maintain transparency, are typically followed in a systematic review. EndNote's ability to store a lot of references and its organisational tools can aid you with the recording and reporting process for this.

Using EndNote for your systematic review: Step by step

You'll be prepared to export the records into EndNote once your database searches in each of your databases are complete.

  • Create a new EndNote Library , saving it onto a local drive (not a network drive or cloud storage).
  • Import journal term lists for your discipline if available.
  • Export records from your databases one by one. 
  • Back up your  Endnote library - you will need to do this at regular intervals during the process.
  • Create a group for each database and move the imported references from each database into them.
  • Tag your references - Use the Name of Database box to annotate your references with the correct database name; this will be helpful in the future. Make a copy of your library, and for PRISMA reporting, keep track of the number of records from each database.
  • Remove duplicates - We advise utilizing EndNote for this because it gives you complete control over the procedure, but be aware that some screening software also has automatic deduplication features. Make a copy of your library and keep track of how many duplicate records there are for the PRISMA flowchart. title and abstract in 
  • Screen by title and abstract - Using EndNote or other specialized screening software, remove any records that are blatantly irrelevant. If you are doubtful, continue the record through to the full-text screening stage rather than excluding it.
  • Retrieve full-text documents - The Find complete text feature in EndNote will be useful. Don't forget that you can access materials from other library services by using our interlibrary loans and document supply services. PRISMA has seen record numbers.
  • Screen for full-text documents - putting your inclusion and exclusion standards into practice. Record the grounds for exclusion in screening software or EndNote (you can do this with the help of groups, custom fields, or the research notes field). Record in the PRISMA flowchart as well.
  • Updating your searches - Before publishing your review, it is advised to update your searches if it has been more than a year since you last conducted them. You can use EndNote to find newly published documents that were not found during your initial search.

Backing up and maintaining your library

At important points throughout your systematic review, we strongly advise you to create compressed backups of your EndNote Library. To do so, simply follow these instructions.

  • Backing up your EndNote Library

Make a folder to keep your library backup copies in, and give them a consistent name so you can quickly tell what stage your library was in and when it was last worked on, such "2021-04-29 Systematic Review Duplicates Removed." Although you won't often need to use them, these backup libraries serve as a safety nett in case you need to go back and analyse search records from an earlier stage of your review (i.e., before duplicates were eliminated) or in the event that your working library is destroyed or corrupted.

Synchronize your library with EndNote Online if you regularly switch between multiple computers.

The major phases of the review where compressed backup copies should be made are:

  • After all databases have been exported but before duplicates have been eliminated.
  • After removing all duplicates.
  • Any other time after you've done a significant amount of work in your library, like after you've screened a lot of references.
  • Before attempting to make significant changes to your library, such finding complete text for many references, do so.
  • Some individuals might prefer to create a daily backup. To avoid having hundreds of backup libraries, you should overwrite any prior daily backups if you're doing this.

Tagging references with the name of a database

Keeping track of the database that a record was first downloaded from can be important. Although it varies greatly, documents may include this in the Name of Database column.

It's helpful to make a Group for each database when you first import your references. These figures can be used in your PRISMA flowchart as well. If you are screening with EndNote (many people screen from unfiled references), you might not want to maintain these original groups. To create a permanent record of where a record originated from, use the Change/Move/Copy Fields Tool to tag your references with the name of the database they came from.

  • Choose the set of references you want to assign the database name to. such as Medline.
  • To replace the Name of Database column in references, execute a bulk update as directed.

Removing duplicates from a large EndNote Library

You can utilise the built-in deduplication feature in EndNote to find and get rid of duplicates. In Preferences, you can change the fields that EndNote looks for while looking for duplicates. Duplicates can be discarded or you can put them in a group.

Removing duplicates from an EndNote library

Before you begin to eliminate duplicate references, remember to create a compressed backup of your EndNote Library and make sure you have a record of the total number of references.

Screening references for relevance using EndNote

In EndNote, Groups can be used to screen references. When many reviewers are involved in the screening process, Bramer, Milic, and Mast have suggested specific ways for doing this, including how to compare EndNote libraries in those cases.

Reviewing retrieved references for inclusion in systematic reviews using EndNote

Bramer, W. M., Milic, J., & Mast, F. (2017). 'Reviewing retrieved references for inclusion in systematic reviews using EndNote', Journal of the Medical Library Association 105(1), pp84–87. doi: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017.

This paper outlines the specifics of a procedure to carry out the title and abstract screening, verdict assignment, and comparisons of outcomes across several reviewers in EndNote. All reviewers work in their respective EndNote files during the blinded process, and their conclusions are compared after each reviewer has gone through the inclusion and exclusion procedures separately.

Sharing your EndNote Library

It may be necessary to share your EndNote library if you're doing a review with other researchers.

Library sharing is not appropriate if you wish to undertake blind reference screening because you can see other people's edits. Either use distinct EndNote libraries for blind screening, or think about utilising screening software in its place.

  • Sharing your EndNote library.
  • Using separate EndNote libraries for blind screening
  • Screening software options

Exporting your Endnote Library to other screening software

For the screening phase of your review, you might wish to use a screening programme, especially if you're part of a team with several other reviewers. Software can simplify screening when using numerous reviewers.

Before exporting your EndNote collection, you should first de-duplicate it since, while some screening software does contain deduplication functions, those features are not thought to be as reliable as using EndNote's deduplication features.

To export it, you must first save every reference in your EndNote library as a RIS file.

  • Exporting your references into Covidence
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