Next Page
Course Contents
Section Contents
Subsection Contents
Next Section

SEARCHING FOR A THERAPY 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 therapy question is to search for the desired level of evidence. For a therapy question, the highest level of evidence would be a meta-analysis, followed by a systematic review, and then a single prospective randomized blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.

For example, if you wanted to search for information on whether it would be appropriate to use the antibiotic amoxicillin for a six-month old with otitis media, 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 "otitis media" in the search box. Click in the box next to the term "Otitis Media." From the pull-down menu labeled "Send to" select "Search Box with AND".

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

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

5) Click on the link for "Limits" on the blue tab underneath the search box.

6) On the menu for "Publication Types", click in the boxes next to "Meta-Analysis" and "Randomized Controlled Trial". At this time you can apply whatever other limits you deem appropriate in terms of language, age, or publication date. Click on the grey button labeled "Go".

Access PubMed

Next Page
Course Contents
Section Contents
Subsection Contents
Next Section