Table 1.

Example of search strategy in MEDLINE/Ovid database

#	Search
1	(client* or patient* or “service user*”).ti. or (client* or patient* or “service user*”).ab.
2	Patient Selection.sh.
3	1 or 2
4	(categor* or setting or strateg* or system* or tool*).ti. or (categor* or setting or strateg* or system* or tool*).ab.
5	Classification/
6	4 or 5
7	(queu* or delay* or “waiting time*” or “wait time*” or “waiting list*” or “wait list*” or waitlist*).ti. or (queu* or delay* or “waiting time*” or “wait time*” or “waiting list*” or “wait list*” or waitlist*).ab.
8	Systems Theory.sh.
9	Waiting Lists.sh.
10	7 or 8 or 9
11	(priorit* or triag*).ti. or (priorit* or triag*).ab.
12	Health Priorities.sh.
13	Triage.sh.
14	11 or 12 or 13
15	(“health service*” or “healthcare service*”).ti. or (“health service*” or “healthcare service*”).ab.
16	Health Services.sh.
17	15 or 16
18	3 or 6 or 10
19	14 and 18
20	17 and 19