THERAPY SEARCH EXAMPLE
This strategy will filter the articles on using anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation, retrieved in search statement 3, to those articles that contain evidence-based information essential to deciding whether or not to prescribe an anticoagulant for a patient with atrial fibrillation.
| # |
Search History |
Results |
Comments |
| 1 |
exp *anticoagulants/tu |
1734 |
Notice the use of the /tu (therapeutic use) subheading |
| 2 |
exp atrial fibrillation/dt |
644 |
Notice the use of the /dt (drug therapy) subheading |
| 3 |
1 and 2 |
123 |
|
| 4 |
(clinical or control$ or compar$) adj (trial$ or study or studies).ti,ab,sh. |
44025 |
|
| 5 |
3 and 4 |
16 |
When we combine the results of sets #3 and #4, we find 16 articles that include keywords indicating that trials/studies are reported. |
| 6 |
(multicenter$ or multicentre$ or multi-centre$ or multi-center$).ti,ab,sh. |
8800 |
|
| 7 |
3 and 6 |
6 |
When we combine the results of sets #3 and #6, we find 6 articles that include keywords indicating that multicenter studies are reported. |
| 8 |
(blind$ or mask$ or placebo$).ti,ab,sh. |
30124 |
|
| 9 |
3 and 8 |
7 |
When we combine the results of sets #3 and #8, we find 7 articles that include keywords indicating that double-blind method, or placebos are reported. Instead of using keywords, you can also try using the "Placebos" and "Double-blind method" subject headings. |
| 10 |
5 or 7 or 9 |
23 |
Combining #5 or #7 or #9 simply groups the results of our three searches into one set containing a total of 23 articles. |
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