To Compare PubMed Clinical Queries and UpToDate in Teaching Information Mastery to Clinical Residents: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

PurposeTo compare PubMed Clinical Queries and UpToDate regarding the amount and speed of information retrieval and users' satisfaction.MethodA cross-over randomized trial was conducted in February 2009 in Tehran University of Medical Sciences that included 44 year-one or two residents who participated in an information mastery workshop. A one-hour lecture on the principles of information mastery was organized followed by self learning slide shows before using each database. Subsequently, participants were randomly assigned to answer 2 clinical scenarios using either UpToDate or PubMed Clinical Queries then crossed to use the other database to answer 2 different clinical scenarios. The proportion of relevantly answered clinical scenarios, time to answer retrieval, and users' satisfaction were measured in each database.ResultsBased on intention-to-treat analysis, participants retrieved the answer of 67 (76%) questions using UpToDate and 38 (43%) questions using PubMed Clinical Queries (P<0.001). The median time to answer retrieval was 17 min (95% CI: 16 to 18) using UpToDate compared to 29 min (95% CI: 26 to 32) using PubMed Clinical Queries (P<0.001). The satisfaction with the accuracy of retrieved answers, interaction with UpToDate and also overall satisfaction were higher among UpToDate users compared to PubMed Clinical Queries users (P<0.001).ConclusionsFor first time users, using UpToDate compared to Pubmed Clinical Querries can lead to not only a higher proportion of relevant answer retrieval within a shorter time, but also a higher users' satisfaction. So, addition of tutoring pre-appraised sources such as UpToDate to the information mastery curricula seems to be highly efficient.

Pharmacist perception and use of UpToDate®

“…Although several studies have examined physician use of UpToDate [3][4][5][6][7][8], this is the first study to specifically evaluate pharmacists' perceptions and use of this important point-of-care resource. Use of UpToDate among a wide sample of pharmacists tended to be partly driven by the ability to access the resource.…”

“…The basis of ques tions was a literature review of articles focusing on prescriber use of UpToDate [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. An investigation of similar scope as this project, but focused on Wikipedia, was also reviewed for potential questions [11].…”

“…UpToDate is know n for providing specific patient care recom m endations, potentially im pacting clinical health care professionals' decision m aking [1], Pro m otional m aterial for UpToD ate suggests its use im proves clinical outcom es; how ever, these claims are based on an observational stu d y th at found m arginal im provem ent in hospital length of stay (5.6 vs. 5.7 days, P<0.001) and m ortality (9.0% vs. 9.1%, P=0.04) in institutions subscribing to UpToDate, com pared to those that do not [2], Physician opinion of U pToDate has been extensive ly analyzed. In prior studies, UpToDate w as preferred by physicians over other com m only used point-ofcare resources in term s of inform ation layout, confi dence in use, a n d /o r satisfaction w ith content [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Thiele et al found that users of UpToD ate w ere significantly m ore confident in their answ ers to 4 clinical questions, com pared to users of Google, Ovid, an d PubM ed [6].…”

“…use with UpToDate over PubMed Clinical Queries, according to Sayyah Ensan et al [7]. Studies have also measured the currency and review procedures of UptoDate.…”

Comment utiliserPubMedpour les recherches bibliographiques en éducation thérapeutique du patient

“…Outre sa version mobile (PubMed Mobile), elle a également développé sa fonctionnalité PubMed clinical queries qui cherche à répondre aux questions cliniques des mé-decins [29]. Mais cette fonctionnalité ne semble pas encore donner satisfaction [30] …”