Searching PubMed Using Clinical Queries

Prepared by Cheryl L. Branche, 2012

Advantages

• The research areas are limited to: clinical categories, systematic reviews and medical genetics.

• Algorithms are already prepared. You do not have to reinvent the wheel.

• Filters can be used to display articles on specific topics and clinical categories.

• This tool is useful in evidence-based medicine queries.

ImportanceWith evidence-based medicine, demands for information

about clinical scenarios must be at your fingertips.

Specially developed algorithms or search strategies are built-in to the module so searches can be conducted to be either broad (greater recall) or narrow (greater precision).

The Clinical Queries tool is essential for patient care in today’s knowledge based medical arena.

Accessing the Clinical Queries ToolOn the PubMed.gov page you can find

Clinical Queries under PubMed Tools.

PubMed Clinical Queries PageThe PubMed clinical queries page has three columns:

1. Clinical Study Categories;2. Systematic Reviews; and3. Medical Genetics.

The results of the search done on the clinical queries page are limited to these three research areas.

PubMed Clinical Queries PageThe PubMed clinical queries page has three columns:

1. Clinical Study Categories;2. Systematic Reviews; and3. Medical Genetics.

The results of the search done on the clinical queries page are limited to these three research areas.

How To Do A SearchTo do a search, type in the search term(s).

Connect terms with “AND,” a Boolean operator. Click “Search.”

Viewing ResultsA results page will appear. There are three

columns: Clinical Categories, Systematic Reviews and Medical Genetics.

Selecting Clinical Studies Categories There are five clinical studies categories:

Etiology

Diagnosis

Therapy

Prognosis

Clinical Prediction Guides

Select a clinical studies category from the drop down menu.

Selecting ScopeSelect scope from the drop down menu.

There are two categories of scope:

Broad – which makes sure you don’t miss any relevant articles – some of which may not be exactly what you want – this is called RECALL.

Narrow – which returns fewer results, but all will closely match your search terms – this is called PRECISION.

Selecting Topics from the Medical Genetics Research AreaThere are seven topics in the drop-down menu:

• Diagnosis• Differential Diagnosis• Clinical Description• Management• Genetic Counseling• Molecular Genetics• Genetic Testing

Select a topic (or All) from the drop down menu.

Getting ResultsFor example, let us select “Diagnosis” for the clinical study

categories, “Narrow “ for scope and “Management” under medical genetics. Each of the three columns displays the first five citations. AND or OR may be used to narrow or broaden your search.

What is a Systematic Review?

A systematic review evaluates and synthesizes the results of other studies to summarize the best available research on a specific question.

Source: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/what_is_a_systematic_review/index.php

What is a Systematic Review? - 2

If you search selecting this column, the results of your search will display citations for:

Systematic reviews, Meta-analyses,

Reviews of clinical trials, Evidence-based medicine studies,

Consensus development conferences, and Guidelines

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/clinical

Searching PubMed Using Clinical Queries-Scenario

A 53-year old female with diabetes and hypertension wants to know how much of a role her mother’s diabetes plays in her own diagnosis of diabetes and how much of a role exercise plays in controlling her blood sugars. As her physician, you want to learn about the systematic reviews that have been published.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/clinical

Searching PubMed Using Clinical Queries Scenario - 2Type in “diabetes AND exercise, ” without the quotes and click on “Search.”

Searching PubMed Using Clinical Queries-3You can see that the default category under

Clinical Study Categories is “Diagnosis”. The default scope is “Broad.” The default topic under Medical Genetics is “All.”

Searching PubMed Using Clinical Queries - 4Let us select “Therapy” from the “Category” drop down

menu under “Clinical Study Categories,” “Narrow” under “Scope” and “Management” under “Medical Genetics.” You can see the first three articles in each research area.

A Word About Systematic Reviews

What is a systematic review?

A systematic review evaluates and synthesizes the results of other studies to summarize the best available research on a specific question.

Source: http://www.campellcollaboration.org/what _is_a_systematic_review/idenx.php

Search StrategiesThe strategies used to select articles in the

clinical study categories were developed by Haynes RB et al. and the Summary of Enhancements for Clinical and Health Services Research Queries for PubMed for Studies may be viewed at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/jf04/cq_info.html

How Clinical Query Searches Are Processed

The search strategies/filters for the clinical studies categories research area topics are extensive.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Clinical_Queries_Filters

How Systematic Review Searches are Processed The strategy used to search for systematic reviews is extensive.

Source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/pubmed_subsets/sysreviews_strategy.html

How Medical Genetics Searches are Processed

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Clinical_Queries_Filters

The algorithms for the medical genetics research area topics are extensive.

Resources “Clinical Queries Filters. “ Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Clinical_Queries_Filters

on July 5, 2012.

“Clinical Queries” PubMed Tutorial. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/020_570.html on June 28, 2012.

“Clinical Queries prognosis.” Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kX4sK9&feature=related on June 28, 2012.

New York Academy of Medicine. The Section on Evidence-Based Health care of the New York Academy of Medicine. “Using PubMed to Search for Evidence: Clinical Queries.” Retrieved from http://www.nyam.org/fellows-members/ebhc/eb_pubmed.html on June 28, 2012.

“Four_of_fire_PubMed_clinical_querires.flv. “ Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ7MYOOJ0eU on July 19, 2012.

“Medical Genetics Search Filters. “ Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3827/#pubmedhelp.Medical_Genetics_Search_Filte on July 5, 2012.

“PubMed Clinical Queries.” Retrieved from http://www.nvbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/clinical on June 28, 2012.

“Subset strategies for systematic reviews. “ Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/pubmed_subsets/sysreviews_strategy.html on July 5, 2012.

“Using Clinical Queries in PubMed.” Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v=JEeUr2dRA%feature=related on June 28, 2012.

“What is as systematic Review? “ Retrieved from http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/what_is_a_systematic_review/index.php/php on June 28, 2012.