Efficiency of searching the grey literature in palliative care

A systematic review into palliative care team effectiveness was undertaken which has, inherent in its methodology, grey literature searching. Over 100 letters were written to a systematically chosen range of service providers , commissioners, and experts in combination with requests for information i n six UK national cancer/palliative care organization newsletters. In addit ion, the System for Information on Grey Literature (SIGLE) database was sea rched. As a result, 25 document hard copies were received. The documents we re, in all but one case (this one study was also highlighted by the SIGLE s earch), not relevant as they were predominated by annual reports, service d escriptions, and needs assessments. In terms of obtaining unpublished studi es for possible inclusion in the reviews this comprehensive search was unsu ccessful and, therefore, it would appear that grey literature searching is not a useful tool in palliative care systematic reviews. (C) 2001 U.S. Canc er Pain Relief Committee, 2001.