How to do a quick search for evidence.

Doctors quote lack of time and lack of knowledge as major obstacles to searching the literature for evidence. This article argues that it is possible to do a literature search in 10-15 minutes with little specialist knowledge, using the Clinical Queries option of Medline (PubMed). PubMed is a free, user friendly service available to anyone with access to the internet and designed by librarians for use by clinicians who are not skilled in electronic searching. Numerous hidden search filters built into Clinical Queries facilitate targeted searches and find all published systematic reviews (including Cochrane Reviews). If no systematic reviews are available, the clinician can find randomised controlled trials and observational studies.