The retrieval of randomized clinical trials in liver disease from the medical literature: A comparison of MEDLARS and manual methods

摘要: Abstract Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) provide the most reliable therapeutic information available. Unfortunately, there are no systematic listing of RCTs. We compared a MEDLARS search 3686 biomedical journals for RCTs with manual medical literature period 1966–1982. For former we used subject headings (1) liver disease or (2) biliary tract and subheadings drug therapy, surgery, (3) radiotherapy, (4) check tags comparative study research. search, contents 34 arbitrarily selected, gastroenterologic, hepatologic, surgical, general were perused. The identified 160 29 others found in references 160. One hundred fifty-four by both methods. 208 an additional 208. only 107 manually 36 journals, efficiency rate 51%. estimate that 330 hepatobiliary had been published during this 17-year period. Sixty percent key word “randomized,” “double blind,” “controlled” title, to 36% those search. In order retrieve RCTs, it is essential editors require be their titles words specific terms such as “controlled,” papers so catalogued indexed, searchers instructed appropriate strategies.