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SEARCHING FOR A HARM QUESTION

For a quick answer to any evidence-based question, the format for a PubMed search is the same:

1) Search for the disease/condition

2) Search for the intervention (drug, surgery, diagnostic test, screening test, prognostic indicator)

3) Add the appropriate "filter" for that particular type of question.

The proper filter for a harm question is to search for the desired level of evidence. For a harm question, the highest level of evidence would be a cohort study or a case control study.

For example, if you wanted to search for information on the relationship between smoking and Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS), you would take the following steps.

1) Click on the link on the left side of the screen to enter the MeSH database.

2) Enter the term "sids" in the search box. Click in the box next to the term "Sudden Infant Death". From the pull-down menu labeled "Send to" select "Search Box with AND".

3) Enter the term "smoking" in the search box. Click in the box next to the term "Smoking". From the pull-down menu labeled "Send to" select "Search Box with AND".

4) Click on the grey button labeled "Search PubMed".

5) Click again on the link for the MeSH database.

6) Enter the term "cohort study" in the search box. Click in the box next to the term "Cohort Studies". From the pull-down menu labeled "Send to" select "Search Box with AND".

7) Enter the term "case control study" in the search box. Click in the box next to the term "Case-Control Studies". From the pull-down menu labeled "Send to" select "Search Box with OR".

8) Click on the grey button labeled "Search PubMed."

9) Click on the link for "History" on the blue tab beneath the search box.

10) Combine the two previous searches by typing "#3 AND #6" in the search box. Click on the grey button labeled "Go".

Access PubMed

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