Click on the type of question are you asking:
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Medline Search Tips - Therapy
Use the fewest number of subject terms which define the question. Use simple text terms unless a complex subject term such as "hospital emergency services", is needed. In the case of a complex subject term, use the MESH headings.
Generally begin with the most recent years and go backwards if nothing is found. In some cases you may want to go back 5 -10 years from the present.
If only adults or pediatric patients are relevant, select the appropriate age categories. Limit to English and to human studies.
Search initially for a meta-analysis under publication type. Then try randomized controlled trial. If no studies are found, try "comparative study" as a MESH term. If you still find nothing, eliminate one or more subject terms and try again.
If you find that no randomized controlled trial or meta-analysis has been done on your question, it is unlikely that the question can be answered from an evidence-based standpoint.
Medline Search Tips - Diagnosis
Use the fewest number of subject terms which define the question. Use simple text terms unless a complex subject term such as "hospital emergency services", is needed. In the case of a complex subject term, use the MESH headings.
Generally begin with the most recent years and go backwards if nothing is found. In some cases you may want to go back 5 -10 years from the present.
If only adults or pediatric patients are relevant, select the appropriate age categories. Limit to English and to human studies.
The best single strategy for searching a diagnosis question is to choose "explode sensitivity and specificity" as a MESH term. "Diagnosis" as a subject heading is another option.
Select "meta-analysis" as an option under publication type - if a systematic overview has been done it should be considered to be the primary evidence, provided that the validity tests for an overview are met (we will help you with validity tests in the appraisal section after you have searched). You may have to run the search an additional time without choosing "meta-analysis" under publication type to find articles.
If you find nothing through these approaches, eliminate one or more subject terms and try again.
If you find nothing with any of these strategies, it is unlikely that the question can be answered from an evidence-based standpoint.
Medline Search Tips - Prognosis
Use the fewest number of subject terms which define the question. Use simple text terms unless a complex subject term such as "hospital emergency services", is needed. In the case of a complex subject term, use the MESH headings.
Generally begin with the most recent years and go backwards if nothing is found. In some cases you may want to go back 5 -10 years from the present.
If only adults or pediatric patients are relevant, select the appropriate age categories. Limit to English and to human studies.
The best single strategy for searching a prognosis question is to choose "explode cohort studies" as a MESH term. Other strategies include "incidence" as a text term and "explode mortality" or "follow-up studies" as MESH options.
Select "meta-analysis" as an option under publication type - if a systematic overview has been done, it should be considered to be the primary evidence, provided that the validity tests for an overview are met(we will help you with validity tests in the appraisal section after you have searched). You may have to run the search an additional time without choosing "meta-analysis" under publication type to find articles.
If you find nothing through these approaches, eliminate one or more subject terms and try again.
If you find nothing through any of these strategies, it is unlikely that the question can be answered from an evidence-based standpoint.
Medline Search Tips - Harm
Use the fewest number of subject terms which define the question. Use simple text terms unless a complex subject term such as "hospital emergency services", is needed. In the case of a complex subject term, use the MESH headings.
Generally begin with the most recent years and go backwards if nothing is found. In some cases you may want to go back 5 -10 years from the present.
If only adults or pediatric patients are relevant, select the appropriate age categories. Limit to English and to human studies.
The best single strategy for searching a harm question is to choose "risk" as a text term. Other strategies include "explode cohort studies", "explode risk" as MESH options and "odds and ratio" as text options.
Select "meta-analysis" as an option under publication type - if a systematic overview has been done, it should be considered to be the primary evidence, provided that the validity tests for an overview are met(we will help you with validity tests in the appraisal section after you have searched). You may have to run the search an additional time without choosing "meta-analysis" under publication type to find articles.
If you find nothing through these approaches, eliminate one or more subject terms and try again.
If you find nothing through any of these strategies, it is unlikely that the question can be answered from an evidence-based standpoint.