Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a search strategy to find evidence-based answers to questions related to the possible occupational etiology of diseases.
Methods
A controlled trial of 70 occupational health physicians and 55 insurance physicians who were asked to answer one out of four ‘occupational disease case-vignettes’ following the steps of evidence-based medicine (EBM). The intervention group were given the search strategy as a tool.
Results
The intervention group scored significantly better than the control group in answering the main question of the case-vignette correctly (57% versus 37%) using more adequate search terms. The intervention group scored significantly better regarding satisfaction with the applied search strategy (28% very satisfied versus 8%). We found no differences in time spent in solving the case or in the intention of future practice of EBM.
Conclusions
The introduction and application of specific search strategies can have a positive effect on the effectiveness of searching literature. Future initiatives for developing and testing specific search strategies in the field of occupational health should be encouraged.
References
Al-Ubaydi M (2005) Using search engines to find online medical information. PLoS Med 2:0842–0844
Bachmann LM, Coray R, Estermann P, Ter Riet G (2002) Identifying diagnostic studies in MEDLINE: reducing the number needed to read. J Am Med Inform Assoc 9:653–658
Balas EA, Stockham MG, Mitchell JA, Sievert ME, Ewigman BG, Boren SA (1997) In search of controlled evidence for health care quality improvement. J Med Syst 21:21–32
Bradley DR, Rana GK, Martin PW, Schumacher RE (2002) Real-time, evidence-based medicine instruction: a randomized controlled trial in a neonatal intensive care unit. J Med Libr Assoc 90:194–201
Brettle AJ, Long AF, Grant MJ, Greenhalgh J (1998) Searching for information on outcomes: do you need to be comprehensive? Qual Health Care 7:162–167
Ely JW, Osheroff JA, Ebell MH, Chambliss ML, Vinson DC, Stevermer JJ, Pifer EA (2002) Obstacles to answering doctors’ questions about patient care with evidence: qualitative study. BMJ 324:710
Haafkens JA, Schuring M, Moerman CJ, Dijk van FJ (2006) Searching bibliographic databases for literature on chronic illness and work-participation. Occup Med 56:39–45
Haynes RB (1999) Can it work? Does it work? Is it worth it? The testing of healthcare interventions is evolving. BMJ 319:652–653
Haynes RB (2002) What kind of evidence is it that evidence-based medicine advocates want health care providers and consumers to pay attention to? BMC Health Serv Res 2:3
Haynes RB, Wilczynski N, McKibbon KA, Walker CJ, Sinclair JC (1994) Developing optimal search strategies for detecting clinically sound studies in MEDLINE. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1:447–458
Haynes RB, McKibbon KA, Wilczynski NL, Walter SD, Werre SR (2005) Optimal search strategies for retrieving scientifically strong studies of treatment from Medline: analytical survey. BMJ 330:1179
Marshall JG (1989) Characteristics of early adopters of end-user online searching in the health professions. Bull Med Libr Assoc 77:48–55
McAlister FA, Graham I, Karr GW, Laupacis A (1999) Evidence-based medicine and the practicing clinician. J Gen Intern Med 14:236–242
McKibbon KA, Walker-Dilks CJ (1995) The quality and impact of MEDLINE searches performed by end users. Health Libr Rev 12:191–200
Schaafsma F, Hulshof C, Verbeek J, Bos J, Dyserinck H, van Dijk F (2006) Developing search strategies in Medline on the occupational origin of diseases. Am J Ind Med 49:127–137
Straus SE, Green ML, Bell DS, Badgett R, Davis D, Gerrity M et al (2004) Evaluating the teaching of evidence based medicine: conceptual framework. BMJ 329:1029–1032
Straus SE, Ball C, Balcombe N, Sheldon J, McAlister FA (2005) Teaching evidence-based medicine skills can change practice in a community hospital. J Gen Intern Med 20:340–343
Varekamp I, Hulshof CT, van Dijk FJ, van Vliet C (2005) Evidence-based medicine voor de bedrijfsarts: zoekstrategieën voor de internationale literatuur over moeilijk objectiveerbare aandoeningen. TBV 13:343–347
Verbeek JH, van Dijk FJ (2006) A practical guide for the use of research information to improve the quality of occupational health practice. Protecting Workers’ Health Series No. 7. World Health Organisation, Geneva
Verbeek JH, van Dijk FJ, Malmivaara A, Hulshof CT, Rasanen K, Kankaanpaa EE et al (2002) Evidence-based medicine for occupational health. Scand J Work Environ Health 28:197–204
Verbeek JH, Salmi J, Pasternack I, Jauhiainen M, Laamanen I, Schaafsma F et al (2005) A search strategy for occupational health intervention studies. Occup Environ Med 62:682–687
Verhoeven AA, Boerma EJ, Meyboom-de Jong B (1997) Management of bibliographic information by Dutch researchers in general practice. Fam Pract 14:69–72
Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB (2003) Developing optimal search strategies for detecting clinically sound causation studies in MEDLINE. AMIA Annu Symp Proc 719–723
Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB (2004) Developing optimal search strategies for detecting clinically sound prognostic studies in MEDLINE: an analytic survey. BMC Med 2:23
Williamson JW, German PS, Weiss R, Skinner EA, Bowes F (1989) Health science information management and continuing education of physicians. A survey of U.S. primary care practitioners and their opinion leaders. Ann Intern Med 110:151–160
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Figure 2
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schaafsma, F., Hulshof, C., de Boer, A. et al. Effectiveness and efficiency of a literature search strategy to answer questions on the etiology of occupational diseases: a controlled trial. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 80, 239–247 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0126-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0126-3