Mapping the evidence base of pathology

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Pathology
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is expanding into specialized fields, including pathology.
• A significant portion of clinical hematology interventions are already evidence-based.
• Effective evidence-based pathology relies on accessible and retrievable research data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges and strategies for evidence retrieval in pathology.
• To identify effective techniques for accessing the evidence base in pathology.
• To compare traditional information sources with the World Wide Web for pathology evidence.

Main Methods:

• Review of key information sources relevant to pathology.
• Application of evidence-seeking techniques: focused questions, protocols, and filters.
• Case study analysis using a clinical scenario (immune thrombocytopenic purpura).

Main Results:

• Pathology presents unique challenges for information retrieval.
• Systematic evidence-seeking techniques enhance the success rate of finding relevant research.
• Comparison of yields from various information sources, including the World Wide Web.

Conclusions:

• Implementing evidence-based pathology is feasible with appropriate information retrieval strategies.
• Focused questioning and methodological filters are crucial for navigating pathology literature.
• The study provides a practical example of evidence seeking in a clinical pathology context.