Appendix 1

- Sources, search strategy, and number of records in the review.

SourceSearch periodSearch strategyNumber of records
Medline01/01/1990 to 06/29/2018Syntax used by Hayenes et al.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Clinical_Queries_Filters)
For
Category: Therapeutic
Optimized for: sensitive/broad
Sensitive/specific: 99%/70%
(clinical[Title/Abstract] AND trial[Title/Abstract]) OR clinical trials as topic[MeSH Terms] OR clinical trial[Publication Type] OR random*[Title/Abstract] OR random allocation[MeSH Terms] OR therapeutic use[MeSH Subheading]).
3469
EMBASE01/01/1990 to 06/29/2018(clinical [Title/Abstract] AND trial[Title/Abstract]) OR clinical trials as topic[MeSH Terms] OR clinical trial[Publication Type] OR random*[Title/Abstract] OR random allocation[MeSH Terms] OR therapeutic use[MeSH Subheading]).1993
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)01/01/1990 to 06/29/2018Search trials, source (“Saudi Arabia” OR “Oman” OR “Kuwait” OR “Qatar” OR “Emirates” OR “Bahrain”), using search limits which included: All databases773
ClinicalTrials.gov01/01/1990 to 06/29/2018Through clinicaltrials.gov, advanced search, status completed, country (gulf countries one by one), phase 3311
Total6546 records