scholarly journals An experimental search strategy retrieves more precise results than PubMed and Google for questions about medical interventions

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G Badgett ◽  
Daniel P Dylla ◽  
Susan D Megison ◽  
E Glynn Harmon
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Experimental Search ◽  
Experimental Strategy ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Search Precision ◽  
Clinical Queries

Objective: To compare the precision of a search strategy designed specifically to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs with search strategies designed for broader purposes. Methods: We designed an experimental search strategy that automatically revised searches up to five times by using increasingly restrictive queries as long at least 50 citations were retrieved. We compared the ability of the experimental and alternative strategies to retrieve studies relevant to 312 test questions. The primary outcome, search precision, was defined for each strategy as the proportion of relevant, high quality citations among the first 50 citations retrieved. Results: The experimental strategy had the highest median precision (5.5%; interquartile range [IQR]: 0% - 12%) followed by the narrow strategy of the PubMed Clinical Queries (4.0%; IQR: 0% - 10%). The experimental strategy found the most high quality citations (median 2; IQR: 0 - 6) and was the strategy most likely to find at least one high quality citation (73% of searches; 95% confidence interval 68% - 78%). All comparisons were statistically significant. Conclusions: The experimental strategy performed the best in all outcomes although all strategies had low precision.

scholarly journals An experimental search strategy retrieves more precise results than PubMed and Google for questions about medical interventions

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G Badgett ◽  
Daniel P Dylla ◽  
Susan D Megison ◽  
E Glynn Harmon
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Experimental Search ◽  
Experimental Strategy ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Search Precision ◽  
Clinical Queries

Objective: To compare the precision of a search strategy designed specifically to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs with search strategies designed for broader purposes. Methods: We designed an experimental search strategy that automatically revised searches up to five times by using increasingly restrictive queries as long at least 50 citations were retrieved. We compared the ability of the experimental and alternative strategies to retrieve studies relevant to 312 test questions. The primary outcome, search precision, was defined for each strategy as the proportion of relevant, high quality citations among the first 50 citations retrieved. Results: The experimental strategy had the highest median precision (5.5%; interquartile range [IQR]: 0% - 12%) followed by the narrow strategy of the PubMed Clinical Queries (4.0%; IQR: 0% - 10%). The experimental strategy found the most high quality citations (median 2; IQR: 0 - 6) and was the strategy most likely to find at least one high quality citation (73% of searches; 95% confidence interval 68% - 78%). All comparisons were statistically significant. Conclusions: The experimental strategy performed the best in all outcomes although all strategies had low precision.

scholarly journals Published randomized controlled trials of surveillance in cancer patients - a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Giglio ◽  
Patricia Schneider ◽  
Kim Madden ◽  
Bill Lin ◽  
Iqbal Multani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cancer Surveillance ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Randomized Controlled

With solid tumor cancer survivorship increasing, the number of patients requiring post-treatment surveillance also continues to increase. This highlights the need for evidence-based cancer surveillance guidelines. Ideally, these guidelines would be based on combined high-quality data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We present a systematic review of published cancer surveillance RCTs in which we sought to determine the feasibility of data pooling for guideline development. We carried out a systematic search of medical databases for RCTs in which adult patients with solid tumors that had undergone surgical resection with curative intent and had no metastatic disease at presentation, were randomized to different surveillance regimens that assessed effectiveness on overall survival (OS). We extracted study characteristics and primary and secondary outcomes, and assessed risk of bias and validity of evidence with standardized checklist tools. Our search yielded 32,216 articles for review and 18 distinct RCTs were included in the systematic review. The 18 trials resulted in 23 comparisons of surveillance regimens. There was a highlevel of variation between RCTs, including the study populations evaluated, interventions assessed and follow-up periods for the primary outcome. Most studies evaluated colorectal cancer patients (11/18, [61%]). The risk of bias and validity of evidence were variable and inconsistent across studies. This review demonstrated that there is tremendous heterogeneity among RCTs that evaluate effectiveness of different postoperative surveillance regimens in cancer patients, rendering the consolidation of data to inform high-quality cancer surveillance guidelines unfeasible. Future RCTs in the field should focus on consistent methodology and primary outcome definition.

Tinea Imbricata: An Overview

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander K.C. Leung ◽  
Kin F. Leong ◽  
Joseph M. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Observational Studies ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Pubmed Search ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Clinical Queries ◽  
Key Terms

Background: Tinea imbricata is a chronic superficial mycosis caused mainly by Trichophyton concentricum. The condition mainly affects individuals living in primitive and isolated environment in developing countries and is rarely seen in developed countries. Physicians in nonendemic areas might not be aware of this fungal infection. Objective: To familiarize physicians with the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of tinea imbricata. Methods: A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key terms "Tinea imbricata" and "Trichophyton concentricum". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, reviews, and case reports. The information retrieved from the above search was used in the compilation of the present article.A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key terms "Tinea imbricata" and "Trichophyton concentricum". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, reviews, and case reports. The information retrieved from the above search was used in the compilation of the present article. Results: The typical initial lesions of tinea imbricata consist of multiple, brownish red, scaly, pruritic papules. The papules then spread centrifugally to form annular and/or concentric rings that can extend to form serpinginous or polycyclic plaques with or without erythema. With time, multiple overlapping lesions develop, and the plaques become lamellar with abundant thick scales adhering to the interior of the lesion, giving rise to the appearance of overlapping roof tiles, lace, or fish scales. Lamellar detachment of the scales is common. The diagnosis is mainly clinical, based on the characteristic skin lesions. If necessary, the diagnosis can be confirmed by potassium hydroxide wet-mount examination of skin scrapings of the active border of the lesion which typically shows short septate hyphae, numerous chlamydoconidia, and no arthroconidia. Currently, oral terbinafine is the drug of choice for the treatment of tinea imbricata. Combined therapy of an oral antifungal agent with a topical antifungal and keratolytic agent may increase the cure rate. Conclusion: In most cases, a spot diagnosis of tinea imbricata can be made based on the characteristic skin lesions consisting of scaly, concentric annular rings and overlapping plaques that are pruritic. Due to popularity of international travel, physicians involved in patient care should be aware of this fungal infection previously restricted to limited geographical areas.

scholarly journals Searching and selecting the best evidence efficiently: a tool for clinicians, professors and dental students

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-176
Author(s):  
Paulo NADANOVSKY ◽  
Ana Paula Pires dos SANTOS
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The One ◽  
The Cochrane Library ◽  
Clinical Queries

ABSTRACT The aim of this article was to offer an efficient systematic search strategy appropriate for clinicians, professors and dental students, for when they have a question regarding the effectiveness of clinical intervention. We adapted the “6-S System” proposed for Medicine in order to build a search strategy focused on oral health, which is speedy, easy to use and arrives at the appropriate evidence. With a focus on validity and search efficiency, the following searching sequence is proposed: critical abstracts of systematic reviews (SR) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), SR of RCTs, critical abstracts of RCTs, and RCTs. These can be searched in the Cochrane library; evidence-based journals; websites and blogs; and in Pubmed using the tool Clinical Queries. This strategy can enhance the ability to quickly retrieve evidence that is important to dental education, clinical practice and delivery of oral health care. The adoption of strategies such as the one proposed in this paper is likely to increase evidence based dental practice.

scholarly journals An experimental search strategy retrieves more precise results than PubMed and Google for questions about medical interventions

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Badgett ◽  
Daniel P. Dylla ◽  
Susan D. Megison ◽  
E Glynn Harmon
Keyword(s):  
Search Strategy ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Experimental Search
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