Full-text medical literature retrieval by computer. A pilot test

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Information Science

Background:

• The increasing volume of medical literature necessitates efficient retrieval systems.
• Access to up-to-date medical information is crucial for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and user-friendliness of a pilot full-text medical literature retrieval service.
• To assess the utility of the service for various professional needs.

Main Methods:

• A three-month pilot test involving over 500 healthcare professionals.
• Utilized computer terminals across seven healthcare sites for online searches.
• Collected user feedback through questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Over 9,377 searches were conducted for patient care, education, research, and browsing.
• The majority of users expressed willingness to continue using the service.
• Only approximately 1% of users found the search process difficult or not user-friendly.

Conclusions:

• Full-text medical literature retrieval services are highly useful for medical practice, education, and research.
• The demonstrated system is effective and user-friendly, supporting evidence-based healthcare.
• A comprehensive database enhances the value of such retrieval systems.