ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to explore the effectiveness of search strategies developed to identify trials of specific complementary therapies in a range of clinical conditions. DESIGN: All primary studies included in a series of systematic reviews were identified. An analysis of the original source of the study and search term(s) by means of which the study had originally been retrieved was carried out. Each study was then searched for in each of 6 databases (AMED, Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO). The proportion of studies located on each database was assessed and the indexing terms identified for each therapy were compared against the original search strategies. RESULTS: A total of 127 primary studies were identified from 35 systematic reviews. The number of studies on each therapy varied, but Cochrane CENTRAL listed the highest proportion for all therapies. No database listed all studies, and at least one unique study was listed on all databases except MEDLINE, whereas several studies were not found on any of the databases. Index terms were effective in locating studies on acupuncture, individual herbs, hypnosis, massage, and yoga. For the remaining therapies, use of text word search terms was important and particularly so for homeopathy, meditation, and reflexology. Variation in terminology for most of the therapies was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: The small numbers of studies preclude firm recommendations, but several potential challenges in searching for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) trials are highlighted. The findings suggest that a range of different sources is required for identifying relevant studies, particularly for certain therapies. The development of an optimum generic search strategy for each therapy is hampered by the variation in indexing of CAM studies. Possible optimum strategies are presented as a basis for discussion, and further testing of the effectiveness of these strategies is now a priority.
Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies , Databases, Bibliographic , Evidence-Based Medicine , Subject Headings , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine (CM) has been the subject of increasing interest in the past 30 years, both as a discipline and in the larger context of alternative medicine. It has steadily been accepted by and integrated into the medical and health-care fields in many countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to gain an overview of how CM has been interpreted and presented to the world outside China and to identify emerging trends. METHODS: This study is designed to analyse the publishing trends of CM and related subjects in all languages except Chinese, ranging from books and serials to audio-visual and electronic resources found in WorldCat, the world's largest bibliographic database produced by OnLine Computer Library Center (OCLC). RESULTS: The findings showed a flourishing growth of publications in CM and related subjects beginning in the 1970s with greater coverage on acupuncture. The materials in English language constitute the major portion of total output. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Chinese medicine has steadily gained recognition in the world based on the analysis of publication records. The translation of original works and analysis of journal literature and conference proceedings on Chinese medicine merit further study.
Subject(s)
Bibliometrics , Databases, Bibliographic/statistics & numerical data , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Publishing/trends , Acupuncture/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Language , Materia Medica , Reference Books , Subject HeadingsABSTRACT
Os autores apresentam uma base de dados que pretende revolucionar o estudo e a pesquisa na Homeopatia Seguindo os padroes internacionais para bases de dados medicos, oferece aos profissionais possibilidade de acessar de qualquer localidade uma Biblioteca computadorizada aonde estao arquivados todos os conhecimentos homeopaticos ja publicados Atraves de um vocabulario de descritores especialmente desenvolvido, o homeopata pode em poucos minutos realizar uma pesquisa de seu local de trabalho e ter as maos todos os documentos publicados sobre o assunto de seu interesse
Subject(s)
Homeopathy , Libraries, Medical , Online Systems , Abstracting and Indexing , Bibliography of Medicine , Database Management Systems , Subject HeadingsABSTRACT
Os autores apresentam uma base de dados que pretende revolucionar o estudo e a pesquisa na Homeopatia. Seguindo os padroes internacionais para bases de dados medicos, oferece aos profissionais possibilidade de acessar de qualquer localidade uma Biblioteca computadorizada aonde estao arquivados todos os conhecimentos homeopaticos ja publicados. Atraves de um vocabulario de descritores especialmente desenvolvido, o homeopata pode em poucos minutos realizar uma pesquisa de seu local de trabalho e ter as maos todos os documentos publicados sobre o assunto de seu interesse
Subject(s)
Databases, Bibliographic , Online Systems , Subject Headings , Database Management Systems , Bibliography of Medicine , Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information , Brazil , Research , Homeopathy/education , Libraries, Medical , Information Services , Periodical , Information Centers , Information SystemsABSTRACT
HOMEOINDEX is a bibliographic database in which everything published in the field of homoeopathy is progressively filed. The methods adopted are those used by major international medical databases(MEDLINE, LILACS), allowing data exchange. HOMEOINDEX radically changes the situation for dissemination, study, preservation and research of homoeopathic works. It takes homoeopathy out of an archaic phase when work was inaccessible and fragmented and into the modern era. The development of this work included some unique achievements: -Introduction of homoeopathy as recognized literature in international institutions. -Adoption of homoeopathic terms (key-words) in official Latin-American medical catalogues. -Creation of a Latin American reference centre, for cataloguing and disseminating homoeopathic literature. -The introduction of homoeopathic papers to international medical databases
Subject(s)
Databases, Bibliographic , Brazil , Information Services , Information Centers , Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information , Information Systems , Periodical , Subject Headings , Libraries, Medical , Bibliography of Medicine , Homeopathy/education , MEDLARS , MEDLINEABSTRACT
A base de dados HOMEOINDEX, apresentada neste trabalho, vem sendo desenvolvida ha tres anos pela BIREME, APH e sistema HOMEODATA. E uma base de dados bibliograficos na qual estao sendo arquivados progressivamente todos os conhecimentos ja publicados sobre Homeopatia. A metodologia adotada foi a mesma das grandes bases de dados medicos internacionais o que permite a conversibilidade de registros entre elas. A entrada em operacao da base HOMEOINDEX muda radicalmente o panorama da disseminacao, estudo, preservacao e pesquisa dos conhecimentos homeopaticos. Retira a homeopatia de uma fase arcaica onde os conhecimentos estavam fragmentados e inacessiveis e coloca-a na era moderna, na qual o medico pode obter as informacoes que quiser, de qualquer localidade. O processo de desenvolvimento deste trabalho representou um marco no estudo da Homeopatia, tendo resultado em conquistas ineditas como: - A introducao da Homeopatia como literatura reconhecida em instituicao internacional - a BIREME (OPAS-OMS). A adocao dos termos (palavras-chave) homeopaticas no catalogo oficial latino-americano da area medica - o Decs. - A transformacao da biblioteca da APH em Centro de Referencia latino-americano para a catalogacao da literatura homeopatica. - A introducao padronizada de artigos homeopaticos dentro de bases de dados medicos internacionais, como a LILACS. Utilizando a base HOMEOINDEX, os medicos e instituicoes podem, de qualquer lugar do pais, saber tudo que exista publicado sobre um determinado tema na Homeopatia, fazendo levantamentos bibliograficos que antes eram totalmente impossiveis de serem realizados (AU)