Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women

Introduction: A search filter for studies involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and additional sexual minority and gender identities (LGBTQIA+) populations has been developed and validated; however, the filter contained very small gold standard sets for some popul...

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Main Authors: Hannah Schilperoort, Andy Hickner, Jane Morgan-Daniel, Robin Parker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of the Medical Library Association
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/2002
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author Hannah Schilperoort
Andy Hickner
Jane Morgan-Daniel
Robin Parker
author_facet Hannah Schilperoort
Andy Hickner
Jane Morgan-Daniel
Robin Parker
author_sort Hannah Schilperoort
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: A search filter for studies involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and additional sexual minority and gender identities (LGBTQIA+) populations has been developed and validated; however, the filter contained very small gold standard sets for some populations, and terminology, controlled vocabulary, and database functionality has subsequently evolved. We therefore sought to update and re-test the search filters for these selected subgroups using larger gold standard sets. We report on the development and validation of two versions of a sensitivity maximizing search filter for queer women, including but not limited to lesbians and women who have sex with women (WSW). Methods: We developed a PubMed search filter for queer women using the relative recall approach and incorporating input from queer women. We tested different search combinations against the gold standard set; combinations were tested until a search with 100 percent sensitivity was identified. Results: We developed and tested variations of the search, and present two versions of the strategy with 99% and 100% sensitivity. The strategies included additional terms to improve sensitivity and proximity searching to improve recall and precision. Conclusions: The queer women search filters balance sensitivity and precision to facilitate comprehensive retrieval of studies involving queer women. The filters will require ongoing updates to adapt to evolving language and search platform functionalities. Strengths of the study include the involvement of the population of interest at each stage of the project. Future research will include development and testing of search filters for other LGBTQIA+ subgroups such as bisexual and transgender people.
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spelling doaj-art-458fa0afddcc4a4b9f5221b5b1a6ba782025-08-20T03:18:13ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghJournal of the Medical Library Association1536-50501558-94392025-04-01113210.5195/jmla.2025.2002Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer womenHannah Schilperoort0Andy Hickner1Jane Morgan-Daniel2Robin Parker3University of Southern CaliforniaWeill Cornell MedicineUniversity of FloridaDalhousie University Introduction: A search filter for studies involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and additional sexual minority and gender identities (LGBTQIA+) populations has been developed and validated; however, the filter contained very small gold standard sets for some populations, and terminology, controlled vocabulary, and database functionality has subsequently evolved. We therefore sought to update and re-test the search filters for these selected subgroups using larger gold standard sets. We report on the development and validation of two versions of a sensitivity maximizing search filter for queer women, including but not limited to lesbians and women who have sex with women (WSW). Methods: We developed a PubMed search filter for queer women using the relative recall approach and incorporating input from queer women. We tested different search combinations against the gold standard set; combinations were tested until a search with 100 percent sensitivity was identified. Results: We developed and tested variations of the search, and present two versions of the strategy with 99% and 100% sensitivity. The strategies included additional terms to improve sensitivity and proximity searching to improve recall and precision. Conclusions: The queer women search filters balance sensitivity and precision to facilitate comprehensive retrieval of studies involving queer women. The filters will require ongoing updates to adapt to evolving language and search platform functionalities. Strengths of the study include the involvement of the population of interest at each stage of the project. Future research will include development and testing of search filters for other LGBTQIA+ subgroups such as bisexual and transgender people. http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/2002LGBTQIAlesbianswomen who have sex with womenWSWqueer womenbisexual women
spellingShingle Hannah Schilperoort
Andy Hickner
Jane Morgan-Daniel
Robin Parker
Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
Journal of the Medical Library Association
LGBTQIA
lesbians
women who have sex with women
WSW
queer women
bisexual women
title Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
title_full Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
title_fullStr Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
title_full_unstemmed Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
title_short Development and validation of LGBTQIA+ search filters: Report on process and pilot filter for queer women
title_sort development and validation of lgbtqia search filters report on process and pilot filter for queer women
topic LGBTQIA
lesbians
women who have sex with women
WSW
queer women
bisexual women
url http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/2002
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