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Databases which provide access to sources of evidence which summarize the primary literature (e.g. systematic reviews ) or high-quality primary sources (e.g. randomized controlled trials) can be advantageous when considering the "body of evidence" related to particular clinical questions. Key databases are PubMed, PubMed Clinical Queries and Cochrane Library

PubMed

PubMed is a free resource supporting the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature. This means you can search the database without logging into the University of Auckland library page. A handy User Guide is available.

PubMed Clinical Queries

Pubmed Clinical Queries is located in the PubMed database and is really useful for quickly finding research evidence for clinical questions about aetiology, diagnosis, therapy (which treatments work), prognosis, or you want to find a clinical prediction guide. This is because built-in filters mean that your search results can be viewed by these clinical study categories.

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How to Search in PubMed Clinical Queries

Once you have your search results, you may want to apply a filter to see only specific type of research evidence i.e. systematic reviews. Click this link to see how to do this - Use the systematic review filter Make sure to search for systematic reviews before narrowing your scope from broad to narrow. A narrow scope filters out review articles and you do not want to miss any that are available.

The broader PubMed database is a good alternative if you do not wish to filter by clinical study category. You can learn more about the PubMed database HERE including how to use the Advanced Search function.

Cochrane Library

Cochrane Library – Contains systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials.

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Searching the Cochrane Library