Appendix 1: Search strategies used
Appendix 1: Search strategies used
Phase 1
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.pt.
CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL.pt.
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS.sh.
RANDOM ALLOCATION.sh.
DOUBLE BLIND METHOD.sh.
SINGLE-BLIND METHOD.sh.
or/1–6
(ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.
7 not 8
Phase 2
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.pt.
CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL.pt.
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS.sh.
RANDOM ALLOCATION.sh.
DOUBLE BLIND METHOD.sh.
SINGLE-BLIND METHOD.sh.
or/1–6
(ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.
18 or/10–17
19 18 not 8
20 19 not 9
Phase 3
21 COMPARATIVE STUDY.sh.
22 exp EVALUATION STUDIES/
23 FOLLOW UP STUDIES.sh.
24 PROSPECTIVE STUDIES.sh.
25 (control$ or prospectiv$ or volunteer$).ti, ab.
26 or/21–25
27 26 not 8
28 27 not (9 or 20)
29 9 or 20 or 28
Test Strategies
All 3 Phases	Subject SS and (9 or 20 or 28)
Top 2 Phases	Subject SS and (9 or 20)
Crossover	Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (crossover.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))
CROSS-OVER STUDIES	Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (CROSS-OVER-STUDIES.sh. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))
Volunteer	Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (volunteer.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))
Versus	Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (versus.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))

Subject SS is Subject search strategy, as presented in the review