Making PubMed searching simple: learning to retrieve medical literature through interactive problem solving

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Information Science

Background:

• The exponential growth of medical scientific information necessitates efficient retrieval methods.
• Advancements in networking technologies have increased access to online databases, making literature searching more critical than ever.
• Effective literature searching requires understanding librarianship concepts and search interface skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present essential concepts, strategies, and skills for medical literature retrieval.
• To equip oncologists with the knowledge to perform their own literature searches effectively.
• To facilitate the adoption of efficient information retrieval practices in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A problem-oriented approach is used to introduce key concepts.
• Discussion includes MEDLINE coverage, PubMed resources, and Boolean logic.
• Seven common online search scenarios are presented to illustrate practical application.

Main Results:

• Understanding search strategies and Web sources for full-text articles is crucial.
• Specific knowledge is mandatory to avoid inefficient and time-consuming searches.
• The presented concepts and strategies aim to simplify medical literature retrieval.

Conclusions:

• Oncologists are encouraged to develop proficiency in performing their own literature searches.
• Effective literature retrieval directly benefits patient care.
• This work aims to ease the incorporation of new, beneficial information-seeking practices.