MetaQuery
is a tool designed to query in
the main medical bibliographical databases, using several filters, from
a single and simple interface.
Available databases and filters for
querying are listed below, with a brief description. For more details,
follow the corresponding link to the original database main page.
MetaQuery is useful for quickly perform a given search in different databases and look for the best evidence-based results, or compare results. On the contrary, for comprehensive queries, and for specialized searches or filters other than those listed here, it is recommended to use the original database search page, with the original search tools. All these database provide a variety of possibilities and tools for searching, see the respective help pages.
To use MetaQuery, select on the top menu the database and filter you want to use, type your queryng terms in the text box, and click the go! button. The results of the search will appear in this window below. To change the database and filters used, just select the new database to search in the list, you can use the same search terms if you want.
This resource is intended for health
professionals and the results obtained are usually very
specialized and technical.
For non professionals and patients, more adapted resurces
are available
in the web, as for example Medline
Plus.
Databases and filters availables:
(Links will bring you to the respective web site home page)
- Systematic
reviews in the Cochrane
Library : The Cochrane Library
contains the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, a regularly
updated collection of high-quality systematic reviews of the
effectiveness and appropriateness of treatments and healthcare
interventions. The number of treatments and intervention covered is
rapidly increasing. The Cochrane Library is published four times a
year. Each issue contains all existing reviews.
This database, and DARE, are the first sources to try when you would like to obtain results quickly: if a good-quality systematic review exists on the topic of your question, it will probably give you an answer. - PubMed
: The most
comprehensive database of references of biomedical articles. A service
of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 17 million
citations (and growing !) from journals indexed in MEDLINE and other
life science journals. PubMed includes links to full text articles and
other related resources.
The best resource for comprehensive and detailed queries, but using the general PubMed search you will retrieve any type of publication and you risk to get many articles unrelated to your real question. - Systematic Reviews in PubMed Clinical Queries : this Pubmed filter selects articles likely to be systematic reviews and meta-analysis from the many references contained in PubMed.
- Randomized Controlled Trials about Therapy, in PubMed Clinical Queries : this other PubMed filter selects randomized controlled trials
- Controlled Trials about Diagnostic, in PubMed Clinical Queries : a PubMed filter which searchs for diagnostic studies evaluating sensibility and specificity
- Articles published in the Core
Clinical Journals, in PubMed :
Formerly "Abridged Index Medicus", Core Clinical Journals is a subset
of about 120 journals, representing the most important and cited
medical journals in english. This filter limits searchs in PubMed to
these journals.
Important ! : after using this filter, the limits in PubMed will remain automatically set to "Core Journals". To desactive this feature, click (on top of the PubMed page) in "Limits" and there (at the end of the Limits page) in "Clear all limits". - Articles published in the Best Impact Factor (IF) Clinical Journals, in PubMed : this is a filter created by nodo3.net which restricts searches in PubMed to the journals of internal/general medicine - and some specialities - having the best Impact Factors. There are 23 journals, they are the medical journals listed in nodo3.net Medical Links - Collectio Medica.
- Any article in any database
using SUMSearch
: This is a meta-search engine, this is, a program which searchs
multiple Internet sites and collates the results into one page. It
search specially the main medical databases, including those already
listed in this page. In addition, SUMSearch execute more restrictive,
contingency searches when too many results are obrtained from one site.
Also it organizes the list of links to documents that it returns to the
user.
- Any article in any database using TRIP database : Another useful meta-search engine which displays in one page the results of searching various databases and web sites. Very oriented to evidence based medical practice, its aim is to allow health professionals to easily find the highest-quality material available on the web.
Author:
Carmelo Lafuente-Lafuente, MD, PhD.
First created: 2007 July 24
Last updated: 2017 December 05
Version: beta-0.9.1
Comments are welcome, write to: