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CLINICAL QUERIES

A quick way to search PubMed for evidence-based articles is to use the Clinical Queries option. Librarians at the National Library of Medicine have built the necessary filters into a search so that all you have to do is enter the topic you are interested in researching.

1) Click on the radio dial next to the type of question you want answered.

2) Select whether you want a sensitive search or a specific search. Just as with a diagnostic or screening test, a highly sensitive search will retrieve more articles but some are likely to be less relevant. A highly specific search will retrieve only relevant articles but not necessarily all of them.

3) Enter your search terms in the search box (e.g. "amoxicilin and otitis media").

4) Click on the grey button labeled "Go".

You can also use the Clinical Queries option to search for systematic reviews by entering your terms in the search box for that option.

You can see what extra terms were added to your search in the search box.

You need to be aware that when you use this option, you are searching by keyword rather than by MeSH term. Usually this will not be much of a problem as the combination of appropriate terms will filter out any out-of-context uses of your term.

Access PubMed

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