Handsearching (or hand searching) is a manual method of scanning select journals or conference proceedings from cover to cover for relevant articles in case they were missed during indexing in electronic databases. Even when they are included in the databases, they may not have relevant search terms in the titles or abstracts or be indexed with terms that identify them as studies. Note: Librarians do not usually perform handsearching. The review team member with the most subject matter expertise is the appropriate person to do the handsearching (Kugley, et. al, 2017).
Kugley, S., Wade, A., Thomas, J., Mahood, Q., Jørgensen, A. K., Hammerstrøm, K., & Sathe, N. (2017). Searching for studies: a guide to information retrieval for Campbell systematic reviews. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 13(1), 1-73.
More information on handsearching:
Armstrong, R., Jackson, N., Doyle, J., Waters, E., & Howes, F. (2005). It's in your hands: the value of handsearching in conducting systematic reviews of public health interventions. Journal of public health (Oxford, England), 27(4), 388–391. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdi056