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Searching Ovid MEDLINE Using Evidence Based Medicine Strategies *


Evidence based medicine (EBM) search strategies allow you to narrow your Ovid MEDLINE searches on the diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, or therapy of a specific disease or condition to clinically relevant, patient care articles. The first table below shows selective terms with a focus on specificity. The articles retrieved will be fewer in number, but some relevant ones may be missed. The second table shows a more extensive collection of search terms for more comprehensive retrieval with a focus on sensitivity. The number of articles retrieved will be larger, with possibly some irrelevant items included. A summary of Ovid commands used in the strategies can be found near the bottom of this document.

These strategies have been stored as saved searches for the Web client on the Library's Ovid database server (may not be available to all IU locations and passwords, see below). To use a strategy, connect to the Ovid Web database server with your browser and login as usual. Choose the MEDLINE database. Click on Run Saved Search and select one of the following search hedges:

If you do not see the hedges listed, you can enter each term manually as shown in the table(s) below, then store the strategy for your later use with the Save Search History button on the main search screen.

Run the saved search, then enter the disease or condition you are researching and follow the directions on the screen until you are returned to the main search screen. Click on the Combine Sets icon. Choose the last line of the saved search and the line containing your disease search, then click on Combine.

Selective EBM Search Strategies

Diagnosis

  1. exp "sensitivity and specificity"/
  2. (predictive value$).tw.
  3. or/1-2

Etiology
  1. exp case control studies/
  2. exp cohort studies/
  3. or/1-2

Prognosis
  1. exp prognosis/
  2. exp survival analysis/
  3. or/1-2

Therapy
  1. (double blind$).tw.
  2. placebo$.tw.
  3. or/1-2



Comprehensive EBM Search Strategies

Diagnosis
  1. exp "sensitivity and specificity"/
  2. sensitivity.tw.
  3. specificity.tw.
  4. di.xs. [di=diagnosis]
  5. du.fs. [du=diagnostic use]
  6. or/1-5

Etiology
  1. exp cohort studies/
  2. exp risk/
  3. (odds ratio$).tw.
  4. (relative risk).tw.
  5. (case control$).tw.
  6. or/1-5

Prognosis
  1. incidence/
  2. exp mortality/
  3. follow-up studies/
  4. mo.fs. [mo=mortality]
  5. prognos$.tw.
  6. predict$.tw.
  7. course.tw.
  8. or/1-7

Therapy
  1. randomized controlled trial.pt.
  2. dt.fs. [dt=drug therapy]
  3. tu.fs. [tu=therapeutic use]
  4. random$.tw.
  5. or/1-4


*Adapted from PubMed Table for Clinical Queries using Research Methodology Filters
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query/static/clinicaltable.html

Ovid Medline Command Summary:

.fs.
floating subheading (aspect of topic)--not always attached to Medical Subject Heading (MeSH term) being searched

.xs.
exploded subheading--group of related subheadings

.pt.
publication type

.tw.
textword search--searches word or phrase in article titles and abstracts

$
truncation symbol--any number of characters may follow

/
follows valid Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms)

exp
explode--includes narrower subject headings related to Medical Subject Heading (MeSH term) being searched

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Help Available


In addition to the on-screen help in the OVID databases, librarians are available in the Reference Department to assist you Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. Holiday hours may vary. Phone: (317) 274-7185


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Searching MEDLINE Using EBM Strategies / compiled by: Sue London / slondon@iupui.edu / Ruth Lilly Medical Library / Indiana University School of Medicine

URL: http://www.medlib.iupui.edu/ref/ebmhedges.html