Analyzing PubMed Search Behavior in a Medical Teaching Hospital
Author Information
Author(s): Arjen Hoogendam, Anton FH Stalenhoef, Pieter F de Vries, A John PM Overbeke
Primary Institution: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Hypothesis
What aspects of queries sent to PubMed are likely to retrieve relevant articles?
Conclusion
Physicians at our hospital make simple queries with fewer than three terms, and using four to five terms is most effective for retrieving relevant abstracts.
Supporting Evidence
- Queries sent to PubMed contained fewer than three terms on average.
- Using four to five terms increased the likelihood of selecting abstracts for further reading.
- 31% of queries resulted in viewing abstracts.
Takeaway
Doctors often use very few words when searching for medical information online, but using more words can help them find better answers.
Methodology
This was a prospective observational study analyzing queries sent to PubMed by residents and internists in internal medicine.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the limited use of search tools and the influence of previous queries on article selection.
Limitations
The study was limited to Dutch physicians, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
94 specialists and residents in internal medicine from a teaching hospital.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website