TY - JOUR
T1 - Developing search strategies in medline on the occupational origin of diseases
AU - Schaafsma, Frederieke
AU - Hulshof, Carel
AU - Verbeek, Jos
AU - Bos, Jurriaan
AU - Dyserinck, Heleen
AU - van Dijk, Frank
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Background: In order to support occupational health practitioners, researchers, and experts (clinical librarians, guideline developers) who search the scientific literature in PubMed (Medline), we developed and evaluated an easy-to-use and effective search strategy. Methods: We tested different combinations of search terms, in answering four case vignettes calculating sensitivity and precision in retrieving literature from a gold standard. The use of the Clinical Queries filter from PubMed was evaluated. Based on the outcomes, we developed guidelines for a professional search strategy, using a flow chart. Results: For the occupational health practitioner, we found a sensitivity of at least 65% with a precision of 20%, when terms for occupation and type of industry were combined with terms for disease. For the occupational health expert, a high sensitivity of more than 90% was found adding terms for risk factors to the strategy. Combining the search terms with the sensitive Clinical Queries etiology filter in PubMed, enhanced the precision. Using the specific Clinical Queries etiology filter in PubMed results in a substantial loss of relevant articles. Conclusions: To search for studies on the occupational origin of diseases in Medline, we propose to start with the proper name for the occupational disease. If this does not exist, use a specific term for the occupation and type of industry in combination with terms for disease. To improve the sensitivity of the search, a search term for the specific risk factor should be added. If there is no relevant occupational title available, it is worth trying the general search terms occupational diseases or occupational risk. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
AB - Background: In order to support occupational health practitioners, researchers, and experts (clinical librarians, guideline developers) who search the scientific literature in PubMed (Medline), we developed and evaluated an easy-to-use and effective search strategy. Methods: We tested different combinations of search terms, in answering four case vignettes calculating sensitivity and precision in retrieving literature from a gold standard. The use of the Clinical Queries filter from PubMed was evaluated. Based on the outcomes, we developed guidelines for a professional search strategy, using a flow chart. Results: For the occupational health practitioner, we found a sensitivity of at least 65% with a precision of 20%, when terms for occupation and type of industry were combined with terms for disease. For the occupational health expert, a high sensitivity of more than 90% was found adding terms for risk factors to the strategy. Combining the search terms with the sensitive Clinical Queries etiology filter in PubMed, enhanced the precision. Using the specific Clinical Queries etiology filter in PubMed results in a substantial loss of relevant articles. Conclusions: To search for studies on the occupational origin of diseases in Medline, we propose to start with the proper name for the occupational disease. If this does not exist, use a specific term for the occupation and type of industry in combination with terms for disease. To improve the sensitivity of the search, a search term for the specific risk factor should be added. If there is no relevant occupational title available, it is worth trying the general search terms occupational diseases or occupational risk. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=32344434301&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16362948
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20235
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20235
M3 - Article
C2 - 16362948
SN - 0271-3586
VL - 49
SP - 127
EP - 137
JO - American journal of industrial medicine
JF - American journal of industrial medicine
IS - 2
ER -