scholarly journals Mind the Gap: Identifying What Is Missed When Searching Only the Broad Scope with PubMed Clinical Queries

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin V. Sperr
Keyword(s):  
Search Strategy ◽  
Clinical Prediction ◽  
Broad Scope ◽  
Clinical Queries

ObjectivePubMed Clinical Queries are subdivided into “Broad” and “Narrow” versions. These versions are tuned to maximize either retrieval or sensitivity using two different sets of keywords and MeSH headings. While a searcher might assume that all items retrieved by Filter name/Narrow would also be found in the set Filter name/Broad, this is not explicitly guaranteed. It is the purpose of this study to quantify the overlap between these two sets and confirm whether Filter/Narrow is always a subset of Filter/Broad.MethodsFor each of the five PubMed Clinical Queries, PubMed was searched for citations matching the query Filter/Narrow NOT Filter/Broad. This number was compared with that for Filter/Broad to compute a “degree of discordance” between the two sets. This process was then repeated for the MeSH headings for “Medicine” and “Diseases” as well as for a set of test searches.ResultsFour of the five Clinical Queries returned citations using Filter/Narrow that were not found with Filter/Broad. Discordances between the sets Broad and Narrow were generally modest for “Etiology”, “Diagnosis” and “Clinical prediction guides”. “Prognosis” was notably more discordant – a searcher could easily miss one Prognosis/Narrow citation for every ten citations she retrieves when using Prognosis/Broad alone for a given search.ConclusionsUsers of the Clinical Queries apart from “Therapy” who are interested in retrieving as many relevant citations as possible should consider combining Filter/Narrow together with Filter/Broad in their search strategy. This is particularly true for “Prognosis”, as otherwise the risk of missing relevant citations is substantial.

scholarly journals Mind the gap: identifying what is missed when searching only the broad scope with clinical queries

2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Vincent Sperr Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Study ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Clinical Prediction ◽  
Medical Subject Headings ◽  
Individual Test ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Broad Scope ◽  
Mesh Terms ◽  
Substantial Risk ◽  
Clinical Queries

Objective: The PubMed Clinical Study Category filters are subdivided into “Broad” and “Narrow” versions that are designed to maximize either sensitivity or specificity by using two different sets of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). A searcher might assume that all items retrieved by Narrow would also be found by Broad, but there are occasions when some [Filter name]/Narrow citations are missed when using [Filter name]/Broad alone. This study quantifies the size of this effect.Methods: For each of the five Clinical Study Categories, PubMed was searched for citations matching the query Filter/Narrow NOT Filter/Broad. This number was compared with that for Filter/Broad to compute the number of Narrow citations missed per 1,000 Broad. This process was repeated for the MeSH terms for “Medicine” and “Diseases,” as well as for a set of individual test searches.Results: The Clinical Study Category filters for Etiology, Clinical Prediction Guides, Diagnosis, and Prognosis all showed notable numbers of Filter/Narrow citations that were missed when searching Filter/Broad alone. This was particularly true for Prognosis, where a searcher could easily miss one Prognosis/Narrow citation for every ten Prognosis/Broad citations retrieved.Conclusions: Users of the Clinical Study Category filters (except for Therapy) should consider combining Filter/Narrow together with Filter/Broad in their search strategy. This is particularly true when using Prognosis/Broad, as otherwise there is a substantial risk of missing potentially relevant citations.

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.

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.

An updated and more efficient search strategy to identify primary care–relevant clinical prediction rules

2020 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 26-29
Author(s):  
Mark H. Ebell ◽  
Tom Fahey ◽  
Mark E. Murphy ◽  
Alan Barry ◽  
Henry Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Clinical Prediction ◽  
Clinical Prediction Rules ◽  
Prediction Rules ◽  
Efficient Search

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 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.

Vitamin D Deficiency/Insufficiency and Challenges in Developing Global Vitamin D Fortification and Supplementation Policy in Adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Ben-Shoshan
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Societal Burden ◽  
Time Period ◽  
New Guidelines ◽  
In Cis

This review summarizes studies discussing vitamin D status in adults and reveals that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is highly prevalent in adults and that current fortification and supplementation policies are inadequate. Background and aims: Studies suggest a crucial role for adequate vitamin D status in various health conditions including bone metabolism, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and allergies. However, relatively little is known about poor vitamin D status and unmet needs in adults. This report aims to highlight the contribution of epidemiologic studies (through the identification of health effects and societal burden) to the development of vitamin D fortification and supplementation policies and reveal unmet global challenges in adults. Methods: In order to assess worldwide vitamin D status in adults, the search strategy combined the medical literature database MEDLINE (using PubMed) for the time period between January 1, 1980 and February 28, 2011, using the key words “vitamin D” “deficiency” and “insufficiency”, and included articles in which access to full text was possible and in which healthy adults were assessed according to one of four commonly used vitamin D threshold classifications. Results: This report reveals that vitamin D deficiency occurs in 4.10 % [95 % CI (confidence interval), 3.93 %, 4.27 %] to 55.05 % (54.07 %, 56.03 %) of adults, while insufficiency occurs in 26.07 % (24.82 %, 27.33 %) to 78.50 % (77.85 %, 79.16 %), depending on the classification used. However, lack of overlap in CIs and high value of I2 statistics indicate considerable heterogeneity between studies. Further, certain populations (i. e. dark-skinned individuals, immigrants, and pregnant women) may be at higher risk for poor vitamin D status. Conclusion: Current policies for vitamin D supplementation and fortification are inadequate and new guidelines are required to improve vitamin D status in adults.

Articles Published in EJPA 2009–2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuulia M. Ortner ◽  
Isabella Vormittag
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Broad Scope ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data

With reference to EJPA’s unique and broad scope, the current study analyzed the characteristics of the authors as well as the topics and research aims of the 69 empirical articles published in the years 2009–2010. Results revealed that more than one third of the articles were written by authors affiliated with more than one country. With reference to their research aims, an almost comparable number of articles (1) presented a new measure, (2) dealt with adaptations of measures, or (3) dealt with further research on existing measures. Analyses also revealed that most articles did not address any particular field of application. The second largest group was comprised of articles related to the clinical field, followed by the health-related field of application. The majority of all articles put their focus on investigating questionnaires or rating scales, and only a small number of articles investigated procedures classified as tests or properties of interviews. As to further characteristics of the method(s) used, a majority of EJPA contributions addressed self-report data. Results are discussed with reference to publication demands as well as the current and future challenges and demands of psychological assessment.

A Professional Counseling Guide With a Broad Scope

2002 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-39
Author(s):  
Michael Richard
Keyword(s):  
Professional Counseling ◽  
Broad Scope

The Broad Scope of Attribution

1991 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 979-980
Author(s):  
Mark D. Alicke
Keyword(s):  
Broad Scope
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