1. Essential Evidence Plus,
Start
*Table 1
Define PICO
Question;
Prioritize keywords
Preliminary search
If using Then do this
Clinical Choose Filter,
Queries Narrow vs. Broad
Limits
MeSh Each term “to
Terms search box with
“AND”, then
combine
Apply Limits
Related articles
Are
Secondary sources
appropriate?
Use PubMed:
Search each
concept separately
See Table 1*
Use Cochrane,
Essential Evidence Plus,
TRIP Database No
Yes
Repeat or
refine search
See Table 2 **
Questions
answered? P
Patient, Problem, Population I
Intervention/Indicator C
Comparison, control, complication O
Outcome No
**Table 2
Yes
Advanced search:
Repeat using same or different method
If need to Then do this
Limit use “AND”
Remove terms
Add more limits
Expand Use “OR”
Alternative words
Truncations
Related articles
Interpret and apply
Therapy, Etiology, Harm
RCT> Cohort > Case Control > Case Series
Prevention
RCT > Case Control > Case Series
Diagnosis
Prospective, Blind, Comparison compared to Gold Standard
Prognosis
Cohort > Case Control > Case Series
End
© Rachel Boykan, 2010