University Libraries

Option 1: Your Search Strategy

A method for improving the retrieval of high-quality studies applicable to clinical practice is to include search terms that select studies at advanced stages of testing for clinical application. Including one, or a combination of these terms, in a PubMed search strategy will selectively retrieve evidence-based literature that is more likely to answer clinical questions.

Example: ("randomized control trial" OR RCT) AND patient safety

Option 2: Clinical Queries Search

PubMed has a special search feature called Clinical Queries. Within Clinical Queries, three types of filters are featured: Clinical Study Categories, Systematic Reviews, and Medical Genetics.

• The Clinical Study Categories filter searches on questions of therapy, diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, or clinical prediction guides by looking for the highest levels of evidence in the literature. Clinical filters are imposed behind the scenes. See the Table of Clinical Filters link or below you will find a table as well.
• The Systematic Reviews filter searches for citations identified as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, reviews of clinical trials, evidence-based medicine, consensus development conferences, guidelines, and citations to articles from journals specializing in review studies of value to clinicians.
• The Medical Genetics filter searches for citations on seven different topics in medical genetics (diagnosis, differential diagnosis, clinical description, management, genetic counseling, molecular genetics, or genetic testing) or a combination of all topics in medical genetics

Option 3: Filter After Search

When you can see your results list in PubMed, on the left, you will see filtering options which can include study types.

Therapy Problems:The best single term strategy is Randomized Controlled Trial [PT]

Diagnosis Problems: The single best search term is Sensitivity and Specificity [MeSH]

Prognosis Problems

Etiology Problems

Questions of Harm