VT-ILEHP: Summaries

UpToDate

Description:

• Point-of-Care resource
  
• Includes topic reviews written by recognized subject experts
  
• Multiple language options available
  

Off-Campus Access:

• Available to UVM/University of Vermont Medical Center affiliates only
  

Search Features:

• Adult and Pediatric search limits under "All Topics"
  
• Links to References in topic reviews
  
• Use "Find in Topic" (binoculars icon) to find words/phrase in review
  
• Print and E-mail options available
  

USPSTF

Description:

• Task Force created in 1984
  
• Consists of an independent group of non-Federal experts in prevention and EBM that work to improve health by making evidence-based recommendations for primary care clinicians.
  
• These recommendations are based on systematic reviews and published as "Recommendation Statements"
  

Off-Campus Access:

• Freely available on the Web

Search Options:

• Try USPSTF A-Z Topic Guide as first search option.
  
• Phrase searches are useful. Enclose the phrase in quotation marks for exact phrase searching.
  
• Select "Advanced Search" as another search option.
  
• System does not support word truncation.
  

MedlinePlus

Description:

• NIH website for patients, families, and healthcare consumers.
  
• Offers reliable, up-to-date health information for FREE.
  
• Includes a multiple language collection of high quality health information.
  
• Updated daily.
  

Off-Campus Access:

• Freely available on the Web

Search Features:

• Type a word or phrase into search box.
  
• Offers phrase searching (enclose words in quotation marks); truncation searching (use asterisk); and Boolean searching (use OR and NOT) (search engine automatically combines concepts with AND)
  

National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC)

Description:

• Public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
  
• Updated weekly
  

Off-Campus Access:

• Freely available on the Web

Search Features:

• Three ways to find guidelines: Browse, Search, and Advanced Search.
  
• Although "Browse" feature uses MeSH thesaurus, it is cumbersome and not very specific.
  
• 'Search" is the basic search option in NGC. It attempts to match input concepts with thesaurus.
  
• Enclose word or phrase in quotation marks for exact match.
  
• Use Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) to make logical connections between search terms.
• Add an asterisk at the end of a search term for truncation.
• Words found within body of document are highlighted.
  
• To compare guidelines, select the checkboxes next to guideline and click "Compare guideline".
  
• "Advanced Search" uses the basic search while allowing you to select specific filters to refine search results.