Comparison of top-performing search strategies for detecting clinically sound treatment studies and systematic reviews in MEDLINE and EMBASE

• Published in: Journal of the Medical Library Association Vol. 94; no. 4; pp. 451 - 455
• Main Authors: WONG, Sharon S.-L, WILCZYNSKI, Nancy L, HAYNES, R. Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL Medical Library Association 01.10.2006; University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
• Subjects: Alternative medicine; Brief Communications; Clinical trials; Data analysis; Data collection; Databases, Bibliographic; Dentistry; Diagnostic tests; English language; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information professionals; Information science. Documentation; Information Storage and Retrieval - methods; Information Storage and Retrieval - statistics & numerical data; Library and information science. General aspects; Medical Subject Headings; MEDLINE; Review Literature as Topic; Sciences and techniques of general use; Studies; Use and user studies. Information needs; Search strategy; Treatment; Numerical data; Information retrieval; Sound; Bibliographic database; Comparative study; Result
• ISSN: 1536-5050; 1558-9439; 1558-9439

EMBASE searching is not free but has greater coverage of European and non-English language publications and topics such as pharmaceuticals, psychiatry, toxicology, and alternative medicine. Search strategies were treated as "diagnostic tests" for sound studies, and the manual review (hand search) was treated as the "gold standard." Considering the unique content coverage and search terms available in MEDLINE and EMBASE, information professionals would be best served by searching the database that is most relevant to their setting or searching both databases to improve a comprehensive search.