PaperChase: a computer program to search the medical literature

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Bibliographic Retrieval Systems

Background:

• Medical literature accessibility is crucial for healthcare professionals.
• Efficient search tools are needed to navigate vast biomedical databases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the PaperChase computer program for medical literature searching.
• To assess user satisfaction and cost-efficiency of a new bibliographic retrieval system.

Main Methods:

• The PaperChase system was installed in a medical library, indexing 400,000 references.
• 1032 users conducted 8459 searches without formal training.
• User engagement metrics, including repeat searches, were recorded.

Main Results:

• Users conducted an average of 8.2 searches per person.
• 49% of users returned for five or more searches; 14% for 20+ searches.
• The system demonstrated high user satisfaction and low operational costs.

Conclusions:

• PaperChase provides a valuable and cost-effective solution for computerized bibliographic retrieval.
• The program's intuitive design facilitates widespread adoption among healthcare professionals.
• Automated literature searching enhances access to medical information.