Select Raw Evidence Resources for Physician’s Core

Select Raw Evidence Resources for Physician’s Core

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Sources of Raw Evidence
1. MEDLINE is produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and provides citations and some links to full-text articles for over 4,000 journals, both print and electronic. It presents the broadest look at biomedical topics. Since the information has not been synthesized, you will have to use a variety of ways to limit your retrieval to the “best evidence.” The UMDNJ – University Libraries subscribes to a few versions of MEDLINE. You will find this on the bottom of the information pyramid, not because it is bad quality information, but because it takes more time to find and sort through the information to find good quality articles.)

2. Ovid MEDLINE provides access to the MEDLINE database, along with a variety of “bells and whistles,” such as links to PDF copies of full-text articles and automatic term generation using the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) thesaurus.

To search

	Library Homepage -->
		Databases -->
			MEDLINE (select either 1996 – current or 1966 – current files)

3. PubMed provides free access to MEDLINE directly from the NLM. It has a “Clinical Queries” feature that allows you to specify domain type of question, emphasize sensitivity or specificity of the search, or limit their retrieval to systematic reviews. PubMed is updated on a daily basis and may often contain links to pre-publication information. You will find the link to the “Clinical Queries” feature on the left frame on the PubMed page.

To search

	Library Homepage -->
		Databases -->
			PubMed  (It will be important to start your PubMed search from a 
			Libraries’ Web site so that you can link to copies of full-text journal 
			articles quickly.)

4. PsycINFO is a good resource for topics in psychiatry or psychology. For example, it is a great place to look up strategies for stress management and other non-pharmacologic treatments of psychological problems.

To search

	Library Homepage -->
		Databases -->
			PsycINFO

5. MD Consult brings together the MEDLINE database, some unique full-text journals, e-textbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and patient information, as well as news features on breaking developments in medicine. The quality of evidence is not screened for you, but it provides a good overview of information when you are not familiar with a topic. Many textbooks are available through this site. Remember that if you access a textbook via MD Consult you should cite the textbook, not MD Consult as your reference.

To search

	Library Homepage -->
		Databases -->
			MD Consult-->
				Generic Account (button located on the left frame)

6. SUMSearch gives you all available evidence on a subject and divides it into Cochrane reviews, guidelines, original research articles and other systematic reviews. It is a little quirky to search, but worth it. SUMSearch is produced by the University of Texas. Its producers have constructed a search engine that formats your questions for each resource in the collection (which all have differing search interfaces!) and makes additional searches for you, based on results. Its content is available in English, French, Spanish, or Italian. SUMSearch searches the National Guideline Clearinghouse, DARE, and PubMed, as well as the Merck Manual and the Canadian Task Force of Preventive Health Care.

To search

	Library Homepage -->
		Databases -->
			SUMSearch