Development of a Search Strategy for an Evidence Based Retrieval Service

Abstract

BackgroundPhysicians are often encouraged to locate answers for their clinical queries via an evidence-based literature search approach. The methods used are often not clearly specified. Inappropriate search strategies, time constraint and contradictory information complicate evidence retrieval.AimsOur study aimed to develop a search strategy to answer clinical queries among physicians in a primary care settingMethodsSix clinical questions of different medical conditions seen in primary care were formulated. A series of experimental searches to answer each question was conducted on 3 commonly advocated medical databases. We compared search results from a PICO (patients, intervention, comparison, outcome) framework for questions using different combinations of PICO elements. We also compared outcomes from doing searches using text words, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), or a combination of both. All searches were documented using screenshots and saved search strategies.ResultsAnswers to all 6 questions using the PICO framework were found. A higher number of systematic reviews were obtained using a 2 PICO element search compared to a 4 element search. A more optimal choice of search is a combination of both text words and MeSH terms. Despite searching using the Systematic Review filter, many non-systematic reviews or narrative reviews were found in PubMed. There was poor overlap between outcomes of searches using different databases. The duration of search and screening for the 6 questions ranged from 1 to 4 hours.ConclusionThis strategy has been shown to be feasible and can provide evidence to doctors’ clinical questions. It has the potential to be incorporated into an interventional study to determine the impact of an online evidence retrieval system.

Complementary feeding practices among children under two years old in West Africa: A review

“…A search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar and FreeFullPDF databases. The search strategy was based on the population, interventions, comparison and outcomes (PICO) framework [9][10][11].…”

Use of the Bibliographic Reference Manager in the Selection of Primary Studies in Integrative Reviews

“…It may also include the type of study (research design) or other criteria such as language, geographical location or time period. 6 Thus, the use of the PICO format (an acronym for patient, intervention, comparison, outcomes) can help in the proper construction of the review question, 7 however, it is emphasized that in IR, it is not always possible to delimit all the elements of the PICO strategy. This strategy can also be used in the PICOT format, where T stands for time, or PICOS, where S is the type of study.…”

Methodological Issues with Search in MEDLINE: A Longitudinal Query Analysis

“…118 Interface, indexing, and retrieval differences also impact reproducibility and replication, which 119 are important aspects of the scientific process, evidence-based medicine, and the creation of 120 systematic reviews [33,[41][42][43][44]. Although the NLM maintains the MEDLINE records and 121 provides free (federally subsidized) access to them through the PubMed website, they also 122 license these records to database vendors to host on their own platforms.…”

“…Little is thus known 114 about what actual principles are applied by database vendors in indexing bibliographic records or115 what specific sets of algorithms are used to rank results when sorted by system-defined 116 relevance. This is commonly known problem among commercial search engines, but it is also 117 problematic in bibliographic databases purchased by libraries [39,40].118 Interface, indexing, and retrieval differences also impact reproducibility and replication, which 119 are important aspects of the scientific process, evidence-based medicine, and the creation of 120 systematic reviews [33,[41][42][43][44]. Although the NLM maintains the MEDLINE records and 121 provides free (federally subsidized) access to them through the PubMed website, they also 122 license these records to database vendors to host on their own platforms.…”