Optimal strategies for literature search

• Main Author: Siddharth Siva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Urology
• Subjects: Databases; evidence-based medicine; level of evidence; literature search
• Online Access: http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2009;volume=25;issue=2;spage=246;epage=250;aulast=Siva

With the large number of urological journals now indexed in online search engines, just reading a few journals will not keep urologists up to date on the latest developments. This paper proposes search strategies to quicken the search and retrieval of the required literature, so that the best evidence may be used to guide practice. This survey of optimal strategies begins with framing the inquiry so the search engine returns results within an accurate scope. The researcher must also isolate the type of evidence appropriate for the scenario and determine its validity. Finally, regardless of the extent of their institution′s subscriptions, researchers should be able to attain the complete document. Besides search strategies, this article extensively reviews sources of information valuable to urologists, including databases and web links.