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Alan Shirley is correct, SumSEarch searches the web version of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination's DARE database which also contains abstracts of Cochrane reviews and protocols (CDSR) as well as the quality-assessed abstracts of reviews which form the main focus of DARE. Therefore SuMsearch is a way into CDSR as well as DARE, but does not provide access,as you mention, to CCTR. Julie Glanville alan shirley wrote: > > I also think this is a fantastic resource which has saved me many hours of > searching In my day to day practice ( as a UK GP) it is now my number one > tool The opportuniies to focus are in my experience really helpful > triggering appropriate quality filters in PUBmed and focusing the search > effectively eg for physical exam focus also searching "Bedside Diagnosis" > > It does I think search the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (both > completed reviews and protocols) which are included in the online version > of DARE but not the Controlled Trials Register > > Alan Shirley > > Thanks Bob for this incredibly useful free search tool. Worth us all > bookmarking it (http://SUMSearch.uthscsa.edu). Here follows an example of > how I used it just now. I wanted to see what had been published > so far evaluating the new UK telephone advice line NHS Direct. I was too > lazy to construct a systematic search and went for the fuzzy logic > approach. I put in the text 'NHS Direct evaluation' and rejected > SUMSearch's offer to focus it down or map to MESH headings. I was offered > (in a logical order) a non-systematic editorial/overview (with a warning > that it may be non-systematic in approach!), two 'possibly relevant' > systematic reviews (one of which was useful, and with a link to 'why > systematic reviews are helpful') and 15 original articles, about 5 of > which were relevant. My own PubMed search had missed the first editorial > because I had asked PubMed for 'evaulatION' and the article talked about > 'evaluatING' the service. Obviously SUMSearch got round that. There was > a prominent offer of material >from the Merck Manual - perhaps reflecting > the sponsor, but this was easy to ignore. I remember a few years ago > Dave Sackett saying we should all be working towards a single-entry search > tool which then picks its way through all relevant sources and gives > prominence to the quality systematic reviews. This one is clearly getting > there, but one worry is that it does not appear to link to the Cochrane > database. What do other users think? Trisha Greenhalgh > >Senior lecturer in primary care > >Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences > >Holborn Union Building > >Whittington Campus > >London N19 3UA > >Tel 0171 288 3246 > >Fax 0171 281 8004 > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > >From: [log in to unmask] > >[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Bob > >Pyke Jr > >Sent: 02 May 2000 13:32 > >To: EBMNY > >Cc: evidence-based-health > >Subject: Fyi > > > >Fyi. > >Bob Pyke Jr. > >SUMSearch (http://SUMSearch.uthscsa.edu) is new method of searching the > >Internet for evidence based medical information. Querying a number of > >key databases, such as MEDLINE, and the Database of Reviews of > >Effectiveness (DARE ), SUMSearch aims to select the most appropriate > >source, format the > >search query, modify this query if too few or too many hits are found, > >and return a single document to the clinician. > > > >This article examines how these aims are realised, and considers > >therationale behind the development of this tool and how the service is > >Internet Explorer 5: top 10 tips > >Christopher W. Oliver, FRCS (Tr & Orth) DM, Consultant Trauma and > >Orthopaedic Surgeon, Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit. > > Dr Alan Shirley > Bluebell Medical Centre > 356 Bluebell Road > Sheffield > S5 6BS > tel 0114 2421406 > fax 0114 2422794 > email [log in to unmask]