This presentation outlines benefits for including Embase in as well designed systematic search and how you may best use Embase, based on established EBM guidelines.
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Embasesystematicsearching.15 may2011
1. Embase: Systematic Searching MLA 2011, Minneapolis Convention Centre Minneapolis, MN BLITS: Getting the Best from EMBASE.com
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3. A checklist may be used to review the search or used to help set up a well planned search
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5. Choosing your database There is some evidence of added value in searching Embase, as well as MEDLINE, for studies for inclusion in systematic reviews, as the additional studies identified contribute to the overall findings of the review; this may be attributed in part to the greater coverage of some languages other than English in Embase. Lefebvre C, Eisinga A, McDonald S, Paul N. Enhancing access to reports of clinical trials published world-wide – the contribution of EMBASE records to the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library . Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 2008;5:13.
6. Emtree: Biomedical thesaurus, over 60k terms Embase: Fully indexed: Over 7,700 journals, 1974- MEDLINE: 2,500 journals unique to Embase, mapped to Embase indexing, 1950- (including MEDLINE Classic) Embase Classic: Digitally scanned and re-indexed, 1947-1973 AIP and In Process: Indexing added, from 2009 Conference Abstracts: Indexing added, from 2009 1947 1950 1974 2009 Embase Content Overview
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9. Embase vs MEDLINE Randomized controlled trials Search date: 14 June 2010 Language Embase Medline Embase advantage Percent Turkish 613 75 538 717% Korean 134 46 88 191% Portuguese 712 442 270 61% Dutch 606 442 164 37% Chinese 5366 3945 1421 36% Polish 491 434 57 13% Spanish 2316 2137 179 8% French 3952 3904 48 1% German 8393 8566 -173 -2%
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15. Start with Emtree Find subject headings for your search Click here to search further in an Embase search form. Click “nn Records” link to perform an explosion search, if applicable.
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18. Free-text Term Searching Perform a free text search for the Emtree term and all synonyms in the title and abstract fields.
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23. Filters The most common type of search filter is for specific study types, found in Filters on Session Results. Other filters may include publication type .
27. Coming in June 2011 Searches are saved with all steps of the strategy clearly visible. The user, can update and rerun saved search strategies
28. Coming in August 2011: Editing your saved searches Saved searches can be edited, and changes previewed and accepted. When rerun, the result count will be updated
One of the first steps is to define your databases. The use of Embase as well as MEDLINE is recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration as seen here.
Content is key/backbone for Embase (Over 360k conference abstracts) Continue to focus to building up content but also on enhancing functionality and indexing/quality.
Even better when a respected source of EBM talks about us positively! Carol is a Senior Information Specialist from Cochrane UK. Everyone at MLA knew her and was impressed that she spoke about Embase in relation to EBM.
Unique RCTs in various languages.
Take out intervention, comparator etc and use a different example. We shall take this review question as an example for demonstrating Embase tips. Starting with looking into finding subject headings in Emtree, using indexing and combining with filters.
Condense
Each term has on average more than four synonyms
If the term has not always existed in Emtree then take this into account. Review the abstracts to identify any alternative expressions used by authors to add as additional free text search terms.
Search Emtree term and all synonyms, with title and search. Give more information on how to do a free text search, mapping on/off and free text searching on.
Perform a field search using the appropriate free text term. Looking for use of that word which may be relevant and then look at the indexing. Help identify Emtree terms to use in your search…
Tips for free text searching: Title Use truncation or wildcard, for example woman* Bullet 2, use near, next when free text searching. Hints and tips for free text searching in Embase…with examples. State that this is for Embase.com rather than Ovid. Paper for customers if needed. American and British, change word order.
Diagnostic Test Accuracy available this week in Embase, come by the booth for more information or our Technology Showcase. Over 349K conference astracts on last search, May 09 th 2011.
Diagnostic test accuracy studies Changes The new check tag diagnostic test accuracy study was introduced in 2011 Before 2011, such studies could only be searched indirectly (e.g. with terms such as diagnostic accuracy ) Search tips As from 2011, use the check tag diagnostic test accuracy study to find studies which assess how accurately tests distinguish humans or animals which have a condition or disease from those who do not (see scope note). This has been indexed 3000 times from January-May 2011. To extend retrieval to all studies on diagnostic accuracy, also search using the term diagnostic accuracy .
We should add something in the notes about significant improvements to save searches. Coming in June.
In saved search folders the strategy is saved not as a flattened query but with all the steps comprising the strategy broken down, exactly as they were in session results. The user then has a number of possible actions form the drop down menu (rerun, alert, edit). The updated hit count can be previewed in saved searches, or for more details you can go straight to the results screen.
The user then has a number of possible actions form the drop down menu (rerun, alert, edit). The updated hit count can be previewed in saved searches, or for more details you can go straight to the results screen.