Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2008

The latest update to the Cochrane Library is now available including 84 new Cochrane systematic reviews, 130 updated reviews, 134 new protocols and 5 updated protocals. Selected new reviews include St. John’s wort relieves symptoms of major depression, Formoterol for asthma: evidence of serious adverse effects, Belt and braces approach may prevent DVT, Early Breast cancer: LHRH agonists show considerable promise and Contracting pelvic floor muscles prevents urine leakage before and after pregnancy.

Issue 4 also introduces a new type of review- the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review. These are full-text systematic reviews of studies that assess the accuracy of diagnostic tests for given conditions in a specific patient group. You can see the first such review on Galactomannan detection for invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromized patients in this issue, as well as protocols for on-going work in this area.

One of the more popular features on the Cochrane website is the two minute podcasts on popular Cochrane Reviews. The publisher, Wiley has received positive feedback on the podcasts, which can be downloaded onto MP3 players and listened to on the way to work. Podcasts can be found here: http://cochrane.org/podcasts/ or click on the Podcasts icon on the Cochrane Homepage.

Database Discovery: BMJ Clinical Evidence

This is the first in a series of posts called ‘Database Discovery’ where we highlight lesser known healthcare databases. To kick off with we’ll look at BMJ Clinical Evidence.

What is it and how can it help me?

Clinical Evidence, produced by the BMJ Publishing Group provides a concise account of the current state of knowledge, ignorance, and uncertainty about the prevention and treatment of a wide range of clinical conditions based on thorough searches and appraisal of the literature. In other words, it contains a compendium of evidence on the effects of common clinical interventions, giving you rapid access to the bottom line data on the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.

What’s the topic coverage?

Clinical Evidence aims to cover common or important clinical conditions seen in primary and hospital care. To decide which conditions to cover, its producers review national data on consultation rates, morbidity, and mortality, and take advice from generalist clinicians and patient groups. To date over 250 conditions have been appraised, encompassing over 3,000 interventions.

How do I access it?
Access is Athens password protected via 3 routes:

1.Direct at http://www.clinicalevidence.com (Click on Logon in the top-right hand corner)

2.Click on the link to Clinical Evidence on the Library’s EBH databases page

3.Login to My Athens with your Athens password and select Clinical Evidence from the Other resources tab

On-site access is also available in the Library without using a password.

How can I search Clinical Evidence?
The database can be browsed or searched. To browse click on ‘Conditions’ in the horizontal menu bar to see a list of broad subjects, beneath which lie relevant reviews. To search, enter your condition or intervention in the search box on the top-right hand corner: more than one term will be automatically joined together with AND and you can search for a phrase by enclosing it in “speech marks”.

How can I get more help?
Try this User Guide or contact the library on library@sgul.ac.uk