Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
05:02

Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases

Published on: October 24, 2019

Validation of search filters for identifying pediatric studies in PubMed

Edith Leclercq1, Mariska M G Leeflang, Elvira C van Dalen

  • 1Cochrane Childhood Cancer Group, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.leclercq@amc.uva.nl

The Journal of Pediatrics
|October 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study evaluated PubMed search filters for pediatric studies. A new, highly sensitive and precise pediatric search filter was developed to improve the retrieval of child-related research.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Informatics
  • Medical Librarianship
  • Pediatric Research

Background:

  • Accurate retrieval of pediatric studies in PubMed is crucial for evidence-based practice.
  • Existing PubMed search filters for pediatric research have limitations in sensitivity or precision.
  • Optimizing search strategies is essential for efficient literature reviews.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and validate existing PubMed search filters for retrieving studies involving children.
  • To develop a novel, high-performance pediatric search filter for PubMed.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluation of six identified pediatric search filters and the PubMed 'Child' filter using two distinct study datasets.
  • Performance assessment based on sensitivity, precision, specificity, accuracy, and number needed to read (NNR).
  • Development of a new pediatric search filter incorporating identified optimal search terms.

Main Results:

  • Existing filters demonstrated a trade-off between high sensitivity and low precision, or vice versa.
  • The Cochrane Childhood Cancer Group, Child Health Field, and BestBets filters showed high sensitivity (99.3-99.5%) but lower precision (64.5-68.4%).
  • A newly developed pediatric search filter achieved optimal sensitivity (99.5%) and precision (69.0%) with a low NNR.

Conclusions:

  • Existing PubMed search filters for pediatric studies often compromise sensitivity or precision.
  • A new pediatric search filter offers improved performance, balancing high sensitivity with acceptable precision.
  • The developed filter enhances the efficient and accurate retrieval of pediatric research in PubMed.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Method for Screening and Validation of Resistant Mutations Against Kinase Inhibitors12:40

A Method for Screening and Validation of Resistant Mutations Against Kinase Inhibitors

Published on: December 7, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients01:15

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
Genetic Screens02:46

Genetic Screens

Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing  genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...