BMJ  2005;330 (21 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7501.0

Try the new optimal strategy for searching Medline

Using Medline to retrieve high quality clinical studies on prevention or treatment of health disorders will be easier and better with improved search strategies. Haynes and colleagues (p 1179) tested the sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy of strategies developed from 4862 unique terms in 18 404 combinations, attempting to retrieve quality studies on prevention or treatment published in 2000 in 161 clinical journals indexed in Medline. No one search strategy will perform perfectly, but clinicians can use the most specific search to retrieve a few sound articles, and researchers can use the most sensitive search to be comprehensive.

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Relevant Article

Optimal search strategies for retrieving scientifically strong studies of treatment from Medline: analytical survey

R Brian Haynes, K Ann McKibbon, Nancy L Wilczynski, Stephen D Walter, Stephen R Werre for the Hedges Team
BMJ 2005 330: 1179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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