R Brian Haynes1, Nancy L Wilczynski. 1. Health Information Research Unit, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada. bhaynes@mcmaster.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop optimal search strategies in Medline for retrieving sound clinical studies on the diagnosis of health disorders. DESIGN: Analytical survey. SETTING: Medline, 2000. PARTICIPANTS: 170 journals for 2000 of which 161 were indexed in Medline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The sensitivity, specificity, precision ("positive predictive value"), and accuracy of 4862 unique terms in 17,287 combinations were determined by comparison with a hand search of all articles (the "gold standard") in 161 journals published during 2000 (49,028 articles). RESULTS: Only 147 (18.9%) of 778 articles about diagnostic tests met basic criteria for scientific merit. Combinations of search terms reached peak sensitivities of 98.6% at a specificity of 74.3%. Compared with best single terms, best multiple terms increased sensitivity for sound studies by 6.8% (absolute increase), while also increasing specificity (absolute increase 6.0%) when sensitivity was maximised. When terms were combined to maximise specificity, the single term, specificity.tw. (98.4%), outperformed combinations of terms. The strategies newly reported in this paper outperformed other validated search strategies except for one strategy that had slightly higher sensitivity (99.3% v 98.6%) but lower specificity (54.7% v 74.3%). CONCLUSION: New empirical search strategies in Medline can optimise retrieval of articles reporting high quality clinical studies of diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE: To develop optimal search strategies in Medline for retrieving sound clinical studies on the diagnosis of health disorders. DESIGN: Analytical survey. SETTING: Medline, 2000. PARTICIPANTS: 170 journals for 2000 of which 161 were indexed in Medline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The sensitivity, specificity, precision ("positive predictive value"), and accuracy of 4862 unique terms in 17,287 combinations were determined by comparison with a hand search of all articles (the "gold standard") in 161 journals published during 2000 (49,028 articles). RESULTS: Only 147 (18.9%) of 778 articles about diagnostic tests met basic criteria for scientific merit. Combinations of search terms reached peak sensitivities of 98.6% at a specificity of 74.3%. Compared with best single terms, best multiple terms increased sensitivity for sound studies by 6.8% (absolute increase), while also increasing specificity (absolute increase 6.0%) when sensitivity was maximised. When terms were combined to maximise specificity, the single term, specificity.tw. (98.4%), outperformed combinations of terms. The strategies newly reported in this paper outperformed other validated search strategies except for one strategy that had slightly higher sensitivity (99.3% v 98.6%) but lower specificity (54.7% v 74.3%). CONCLUSION: New empirical search strategies in Medline can optimise retrieval of articles reporting high quality clinical studies of diagnosis.
Authors: J G Lijmer; B W Mol; S Heisterkamp; G J Bonsel; M H Prins; J H van der Meulen; P M Bossuyt Journal: JAMA Date: 1999-09-15 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Salimah Z Shariff; Jessica M Sontrop; R Brian Haynes; Arthur V Iansavichus; K Ann McKibbon; Nancy L Wilczynski; Matthew A Weir; Mark R Speechley; Amardeep Thind; Amit X Garg Journal: CMAJ Date: 2012-01-16 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Nancy L Wilczynski; R Brian Haynes; John N Lavis; Ravi Ramkissoonsingh; Alexandra E Arnold-Oatley Journal: CMAJ Date: 2004-11-09 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Mary A Lavin; Mary M Krieger; Geralyn A Meyer; Mark A Spasser; Tome Cvitan; Cordie G Reese; Judith H Carlson; Anne G Perry; Patricia McNary Journal: J Med Libr Assoc Date: 2005-01
Authors: J Verbeek; J Salmi; I Pasternack; M Jauhiainen; I Laamanen; F Schaafsma; C Hulshof; F van Dijk Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Monika Kastner; Nancy L Wilczynski; Ann K McKibbon; Amit X Garg; R Brian Haynes Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2009-02-20 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Mariska M G Leeflang; Jonathan J Deeks; Constantine Gatsonis; Patrick M M Bossuyt Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2008-12-16 Impact factor: 25.391