MeSH revision impact worksheet ============================== StatMedAnalysis | Downloadable worksheet | 5 November 2026 Translate a changed subject heading into a reproducible search update while preserving older indexing. Working instructions Locate the current MeSH record and annual change information for each heading in a saved search. Record its descriptor identifier, previous indexing notes and narrower terms. Compare hits from the old and revised clauses within the same database on the same day. Working record Save a local copy. Use public, hypothetical or aggregate information. Project code ____________________ Prepared on ____________________ Database and saved search date ___________________________________________________________________ Heading label, identifier and vocabulary year ___________________________________________________________________ Change type and official record ___________________________________________________________________ Earlier indexing terms and affected years ___________________________________________________________________ Explosion setting and narrower headings included ___________________________________________________________________ Old-only records inspected ___________________________________________________________________ New-only records inspected ___________________________________________________________________ Revised clause and date adopted ___________________________________________________________________ Hypothetical worked case A hypothetical heading becomes narrower after a change in its hierarchy. The reviewer keeps the relevant older phrase as a free-text synonym and inspects records retrieved only by the previous clause. The example assumes no particular live heading changed. Decision and follow-up Retain both query versions. Escalate a changed or retired heading until its historical coverage and any newly excluded concept have a written explanation. A stable label can still have changed descendants. Decision _______________________ Date ___________________________ Evidence retained at _____________________________________________ Next action ____________________ Owner __________________________ Official reference checked 5 November 2026 https://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html