PubMed Clinical Queries
Increasing numbers of systematic reviews are being published in the dental literature, although the total number is still small. A recent evaluation of dental systematic reviews found 220 published between January 1, 2000 and July 14, 2005. An earlier study found 131 dental systematic reviews published up to December 31, 2002.
To limit PubMed searches to systematic and other evidence based reviews:
- Select Clinical Queries under PubMed Services in the blue sidebar
- Use the Find Systematic Reviews form
- Enter search words that will perform a comprehensive search for your topic. A search for powered toothbrush only retrieves 8 article records. The search (electric OR power OR powered) AND toothbrushing OR toothbrush OR toothbrushes) retrieves 31 article records.
- Note that the Find Systematic Reviews Clinical Query automatically adds the phrase systematic[sb] to the words that are entered. [sb] stands for subset, a predefined set of search words.
Note: The Find Systematic Reviews Clinical Query uses a fairly broad definition to focus the search on evidence-based reviews. The clinician must always appraise the quality of the reviews that are retrieved.
The Clinical Study Category form on the Clinical Queries page is used to search for articles at the next level of evidence whenever a recent, high quality, conclusive systematic review is not found.
A search for xylitol AND dental caries in Find Systematic Reviews retrieves a systematic review completed in 2003 that states:
"It is suggested that the evidence for the use of sorbitol or xylitol in chewing
gum, or for the use of invert sugar, is inconclusive...The review clearly demonstrates the need for well-designed randomized clinical
studies with adequate control groups and high compliance."
Use the Clinical Study form to search for more recent RCTs. Select the narrow, specific search first. The broad search looks for any clinical trial, not just RCTs.
Words related to the Study Category are automatically added to the search words entered in the Find Clincal Study Category search box.
For example, when therapy and narrow are selected the words AND (randomized controlled trial[Publication Type] OR (randomized[Title/Abstract] AND controlled[Title/Abstract] AND trial[Title/Abstract])) are added to the words that are entered in the search box.
Remember to assess the quality of any studies that are located.
Guidelines for constructing your own searches by study type can be found in Additional EBM Strategies for searching MEDLINE
 About EBD Cochrane Collaboration 
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