Article type
Year
Abstract
Physicians use 2 different general strategies to update their knowledge. One involves scanning information resources to see what is new. A second involves a search for information about a specific clinical question. The Cochrane library contains valuable information for family physicians and could be useful in either strategy. However, many physicians are unaware of Cochrane reviews and their potential usefulness. Three different approaches have been used in the USA to systematically present Cochrane material to family physicians.
Cochrane for Clinicians was developed to allow physicians to find Cochrane abstracts in their general scanning strategy. This 2-3 page feature is published regularly in the American Family Physician a journal that is published 24 times per year and has a circulation of over 170,000. Each Cochrane for Clinicians includes the abstract of one Cochrane review, with accompanying text to set the contents of the abstract into context.
InfoRetriever is a database of evidence based information designed to allow family physicians to rapidly access relevant evidence when they have specific questions about patient care. Full abstracts of all of the Cochrane reviews are included in the database, along with evidence based decision support tools, calculators for specific diagnostic tests or elements of the history and physical examination, and summaries of evidence based guidelines and of relevant articles from over 100 journals. The entire database is searchable by text word. InfoRetriever is a commercial product available by subscription with
quarterly updates.
Clinical Inquiries represent the beginning of an attempt to create a database containing evidence based answers to the questions most frequently asked by family physicians. The resource is produced by a not for profit consortium the Family Practice Inquiries Network. Practicing family physician members of the consortium submit questions. An online voting booth allows the same physicians to determine the priority of questions. A medical librarian and a family physician then work together to find and summarize the evidence that addresses each question. The results are published in an online database and in one of 2 widely read family medicine journals the American Family Physician, and the Journal of Family Practice.
Cochrane for Clinicians was developed to allow physicians to find Cochrane abstracts in their general scanning strategy. This 2-3 page feature is published regularly in the American Family Physician a journal that is published 24 times per year and has a circulation of over 170,000. Each Cochrane for Clinicians includes the abstract of one Cochrane review, with accompanying text to set the contents of the abstract into context.
InfoRetriever is a database of evidence based information designed to allow family physicians to rapidly access relevant evidence when they have specific questions about patient care. Full abstracts of all of the Cochrane reviews are included in the database, along with evidence based decision support tools, calculators for specific diagnostic tests or elements of the history and physical examination, and summaries of evidence based guidelines and of relevant articles from over 100 journals. The entire database is searchable by text word. InfoRetriever is a commercial product available by subscription with
quarterly updates.
Clinical Inquiries represent the beginning of an attempt to create a database containing evidence based answers to the questions most frequently asked by family physicians. The resource is produced by a not for profit consortium the Family Practice Inquiries Network. Practicing family physician members of the consortium submit questions. An online voting booth allows the same physicians to determine the priority of questions. A medical librarian and a family physician then work together to find and summarize the evidence that addresses each question. The results are published in an online database and in one of 2 widely read family medicine journals the American Family Physician, and the Journal of Family Practice.