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Updated: May 27, 2026

Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
Published on: October 24, 2019
Effectiveness of bibliographic searches performed by paediatric residents and interns assisted by librarians. A
Paolo Gardois1, Roberto Calabrese, Nicoletta Colombi
1School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. pgardois@gmail.com
Insights
Biomedical librarians significantly improve search outcomes for pediatricians using medical databases. Assisted searches yielded higher success rates compared to unassisted searches, demonstrating the value of librarian support in clinical information retrieval.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Information Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Paediatricians face significant challenges in effectively utilizing information retrieval technologies for clinical practice.
- Barriers to information access hinder evidence-based decision-making in paediatrics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if biomedical librarian assistance enhances the success of searches conducted by paediatricians in biomedical databases.
- To assess the impact of librarian support on paediatricians' ability to retrieve relevant clinical information.
Main Methods:
- A controlled trial was conducted with paediatric residents and interns at a teaching hospital.
- Participants were randomized into an assisted search group (with librarian support) and a control group.
- Search performance was assessed using a standardized tool, evaluating question formulation, retrieval, and selection of records.
Main Results:
- The assisted group achieved a significantly higher median search score (73.6) compared to the control group (50.4).
- The difference in median scores (23.2 points) favored the assisted group (P=0.013).
- Librarian assistance led to a statistically significant improvement in search session success.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative evidence confirms that paediatricians benefit significantly from librarian assistance when searching biomedical databases.
- Integrating biomedical librarians into search processes can enhance clinical information retrieval for paediatricians.
- Librarian support is a valuable strategy to overcome barriers in accessing medical literature for paediatric care.
Background:
Considerable barriers still prevent paediatricians from successfully using information retrieval technology.
Objectives:
To verify whether the assistance of biomedical librarians significantly improves the outcomes of searches performed by paediatricians in biomedical databases using real-life clinical scenarios.
Methods:
In a controlled trial at a paediatric teaching hospital, nine residents and interns were randomly allocated to an assisted search group and nine to a non-assisted (control) group. Each participant searched PubMed and other online sources, performing pre-determined tasks including the formulation of a clinical question, retrieval and selection of bibliographic records. In the assisted group, participants were supported by a librarian with ≥5 years of experience. The primary outcome was the success of search sessions, scored against a specific assessment tool.
Results:
The median score of the assisted group was 73.6 points interquartile range (IQR = 13.4) vs. 50.4 (IQR = 17.1) of the control group. The difference between median values in the results was 23.2 points (95% CI 4.8-33.2), in favour of the assisted group (P-value, Mann-Whitney U test: 0.013).
Conclusions:
The study has found quantitative evidence of a significant difference in search performance between paediatric residents or interns assisted by a librarian and those searching the literature alone.
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