A validated search assessment tool: assessing practice-based learning and improvement in a residency program

Abstract

The results provide evidence for the validity of the instrument to evaluate MEDLINE search strategies. This assessment tool can measure improvements in information-seeking skills and provide data to fulfill Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies.

Is literature search training for medical students and residents effective? a literature review

“…It and four additional instruments or methods reported here included measurements of reliability and validity. The University of Michigan MEDLINE Search Assessment (UMMSA) tool is a matrix that assigns points for the inclusion of various required search elements [6]. With UMMSA, points are assigned for elements such as identifying appropriate Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), exploding MeSH, adding subheadings, focusing one or more MeSH terms, and limiting properly.…”

Time to rethink the role of the library in educating doctors: driving information literacy in the clinical environment

“…She reports librarians frequently experience difficulty in embedding IL into clinical settings and objectively measuring learning [11]. Rana and colleagues state that being able to search the literature effectively is a prerequisite for practising evidence-based medicine; however, one of the issues facing librarians is the lack of validated assessment tools for database search skills [12].…”

Quality of pharmacy-specific Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) assignment in pharmacy journals indexed in MEDLINE

“…12 However, knowledge and appropriate use of MeSH are critical elements to conduct an effective MEDLINE search. 13 Besides providing a consistent way of retrieving information, MeSH can also be indicative of popular topics within a scientific area. [14][15][16] Articles indexed under the same set of MeSH terms should refer to the same research field.…”