Author: Brian S McGowan, PhD

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The work participation of people with chronic diseases is a growing concern within the field of occupational medicine. Information on this topic is dispersed across a variety of data sources, making it difficult for health professionals to find relevant studies for literature reviews and guidelines.
AIM:
The goal of this project was to identify bibliographic databases and search terms that could be most useful for retrieving relevant studies on this topic.
METHODS:
Five broad questions regarding work participation and chronic disease were formulated, focusing on angina pectoris, depression, diabetes mellitus, hearing impairment and rheumatoid arthritis. A search strategy for retrieving information on these questions was developed and run in five bibliographic databases: Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cinahl and OSHROM. Relevant publications were selected from the search results. The utility of the selected databases and search terms was evaluated by analysing the number of relevant publications that were retrieved.
RESULTS:
The number of relevant publications retrieved from each database varied. Most (84%) of the relevant publications that were retrieved from each database were unique to that source. For each database, specific search terms for the concept of ‘work’ were useful for retrieving relevant publications.
CONCLUSION:
Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO are useful databases for quick searches. Useful search terms for the concept of ‘work’ are work capacity, work disability, vocational rehabilitation, occupational health, sick leave, absenteeism, return to work, retirement, employment status and work status. For comprehensive searches, we recommend additional searches in Cinahl and OSHROM, adapting the search terms to specific databases

via Searching bibliographic databases for liter… [Occup Med (Lond). 2006] – PubMed – NCBI.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Evaluating the existence and strength of an association between a putative cause and adverse clinical outcome is complex and best done by assessing all available evidence. With the increasing burden of chronic disease, greater time demands on health professionals, and the explosion of information, effective retrieval of best evidence has become both more important and more difficult. Optimal search retrieval can be hampered by a number of obstacles, especially poor search strategies, but using empirically tested methodological search filters can enhance the accuracy of searches for sound evidence concerning etiology. Although such filters have previously been developed for studies of relevance to causation in MEDLINE, no empirically tested search strategy exists for EMBASE.
METHODS:
An analytic survey was conducted, comparing hand searches of journals with retrievals from EMBASE for candidate search terms and combinations. 6 research assistants read all issues of 55 journals indexed in EMBASE. All articles were rated using purpose and quality indicators and categorized into clinically relevant original studies, review articles, general papers, or case reports. The original and review articles were then categorized as ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ for scientific merit according to explicit criteria in the areas of causation (etiology) and other clinical topics. Candidate search strategies were developed for causation, then run in a subset of 55 EMBASE journals, the retrievals being compared with the hand search data. The sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy of the search strategies were calculated.
RESULTS:
Of the 1489 studies classified as causation, 14% were methodologically sound. When search terms were combined, sensitivity reached 92%. Compared with the best single-term strategy, the best combination of terms resulted in an absolute increase in sensitivity (19%) and specificity (5.2%). Maximizing specificity for combined terms resulted in an increase of 7.1% compared with the single term but this came at an expense of sensitivity (39% absolute decrease). A search strategy that optimized the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity achieved 81.9% for sensitivity and 81.4% for specificity.
CONCLUSION:
We have discovered search strategies that retrieve high quality studies of causation from EMBASE with high sensitivity, high specificity, or an optimal balance of each.

via Developing optimal search strategie… [BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2005] – PubMed – NCBI.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
As a result of changes in information technology and the rapid growth of publications methods of searching the literature have changed. Systematic searching of the growing literature has become very important. It is not known whether researchers in general practice search systematically, and whether they have incorporated computerized sources in their research practice.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS:
We aimed to assess the methods of literature research used by GPs. We interviewed eight GP researchers, two information specialists and a psychologist working in primary health care organizations.
RESULTS:
The GP researchers began their search in their private book collections, or asked colleagues for information. Later in the search process, they used computerized information sources. Medline on CD-ROM and the computer-based indexes of two Dutch journals were most widely used. The GPs found it difficult to locate the appropriate terms to describe their research questions. Knowledge of the methodology of literature research, and skills required to use the information sources efficiently were lacking. There was a need for instruction and training in the use of information sources. GPs need a telephone help desk where their questions can be answered adequately.
CONCLUSIONS:
GP researchers search the literature unsystematically. Although computerized databases were being used, knowledge and skills related to the use of these information sources must be improved.

via Management of bibliographic information by Dutch r… [Fam Pract. 1997] – PubMed – NCBI.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Prior educational interventions to increase seeking evidence by medical students have been unsuccessful.
METHODS:
We report two quasirandomized controlled trials to increase seeking of medical evidence by third-year medical students. In the first trial (1997-1998), we placed computers in clinical locations and taught their use in a 6-hour course. Based on negative results, we created SUMSearch, an Internet site that automates searching for medical evidence by simultaneous meta-searching of MEDLINE and other sites. In the second trial (1999-2000), we taught SUMSearch’s use in a 5(1/2)-hour course. Both courses were taught during the medicine clerkship. For each trial, we surveyed the entire third-year class at 6 months, after half of the students had taken the course (intervention group). The students who had not received the intervention were the control group. We measured self-report of search frequency and satisfaction with search quality and speed.
RESULTS:
The proportion of all students who reported searching at least weekly for medical evidence significantly increased from 19% (1997-1998) to 42% (1999-2000). The proportion of all students who were satisfied with their search results increased significantly between study years. However, in neither study year did the interventions increase searching or satisfaction with results. Satisfaction with the speed of searching was 27% in 1999-2000. This did not increase between studies years and was not changed by the interventions.
CONCLUSION:
None of our interventions affected searching habits. Even with automated searching, students report low satisfaction with search speed. We are concerned that students using current strategies for seeking medical evidence will be less likely to seek and appraise original studies when they enter medical practice and have less time.

via Teaching clinical informatics to third-year med… [BMC Med Educ. 2001] – PubMed – NCBI.