Enhancing search efficiency by means of a search filter for finding all studies on animal experimentation in PubMed
2010
Improving Search for Animal Studies in PubMed
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Carlijn R Hooijmans, Alice Tillema, Marlies Leenaars, Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga
Primary Institution: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Hypothesis
Can a new search filter improve the retrieval of animal studies in PubMed?
Conclusion
The new search filter retrieves 7% more records than the standard PubMed limit for animal studies.
Supporting Evidence
- The search filter found 4,689,950 records compared to 4,411,585 with the standard method.
- The filter retrieves the most recent studies that may not yet be indexed.
- Using the filter can help prevent unnecessary duplication of animal studies.
Takeaway
Scientists can find more studies about animals by using a new search tool in PubMed, which makes it easier to gather all the information they need.
Methodology
The search filter was developed and validated by comparing it with the standard PubMed Limit: Animals method.
Limitations
The filter is only suitable for PubMed and may not distinguish between relevant and irrelevant studies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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