Presented at MLA2011. Improved indexing changes are outlined as well as significant improvements to saving searches as part of a systematic search workflow.
16. Human Emtree 2010 Emtree 2011 Previously: Limited to humans as experimental subjects. From 2011: Includes items reporting (for example) the training of medical staff (i.e. even though they are not regarded as “experimental” subjects).
17. Clinical trial Definition: Used for original reports of prospective clinical studies in which the (comparative) efficacy of one or more medical interventions in humans is evaluated; also used for prospective clinical veterinary trials in which the (comparative) efficacy of one or more medical interventions in animals is evaluated. Previously: This check tag was limited to use in human studies. From 2011: It now includes veterinary clinical trials.
18. Diagnostic Test Accuracy Study Definition:Used for original studies or systematic reviews which assess how accurately a test distinguishes humans or animals having a condition or disease from those who do not. Typically, the test under evaluation is called the index test and its results are compared to the results of the best. Previously: Did not exist From 2011: This is a new check tag and unique to Embase
Content is key/backbone for Embase(Over 360k conference abstracts)Continue to focus to building up content but also on enhancing functionality and indexing/quality.
Bullets in the boxes
Condense
From 2011: Users will consistently search all Embase with the current Emtree (preferred terms/synonyms, including explosion searching)Backposting entails all older records being reloaded so that their indexing is consistent with the new Emtree (2011). This means that you will be able to search all Embase with Emtree 2011 PTs /synonyms and get comprehensive retrieval, including in explosion searches, even for records indexed with candidate terms which have since been incorporated into Emtree. If you want an example see my email of 5 May last week copied to you last week (How badly do we need backposting?) in which I provided these examples:2010: I checked this using test term tocilizumab, which replaced atlizumab in 20102011: I will check after they have loaded Emtree 2011 (mid-May): test term cositecan will replace karenitecinSo after the reload cositec/de will have the same results as karenitecin/de (and all the results will be included in an explosion search using any of the BTs ofcositec)
Bullets in the boxes
Previously: 10 “study type” check tags (for example, clinical trial) were used in Embase for ALL items that were about the study type, as well as for original reports of clinical trials etc.
Old and new Emtree treeClinical trials ChangesAs from 2011, clinical trial is used to index prospective clinical veterinary trials.Before 2011, clinical trial was limited to human studies only. Search tipsLimit clinical trial using human to ensure only human studies are retrieved.A small number (<3%) of clinical trials indexed before 2011 are non-human. This is attributable to the Medline content of Embase.
Diagnostic test accuracy studies ChangesThe new check tag diagnostic test accuracy study was introduced in 2011Before 2011, such studies could only be searched indirectly (e.g. with terms such as diagnostic accuracy) Search tipsAs from 2011, use the check tag diagnostic test accuracy study to find studies which assess how accurately tests distinguish humans or animals which have a condition or disease from those who do not (see scope note). This has been indexed 3000 times from January-May 2011.To extend retrieval to all studies on diagnostic accuracy, also search using the term diagnostic accuracy.
Bullets in the boxes
New folder structure and privacy rights. It is now not allowed to save a search in a public folder (previously my institution), which contains a reference to a search in a private folder. So they must be fully in private or public, and NOT in both. Right now they can be in both which is an obstacle for sharing, as it looks to be a public search but then only the owner of the private folder will be able to work with the query. Now the user will see a warning if they try to save a search in this way. It is not allowed. There is now no crossover between the folders, and a clear divide between public and private. Improved look and feel – new icons, and private folders now have locks.
A search strategy is any search made up of one or more queries. From the results screen. When you select a search,( here no.6), all related searches are identified (blue check mark). This can then be saved as a strategy by clicking on save. Add naming and searching…
In saved search folders the strategy is saved not as a flattened query but with all the steps comprising the strategy broken down, exactly as they were in session results. The user then has a number of possible actions form the drop down menu (rerun, alert, edit). The updated hit count can be previewed in saved searches, or for more details you can go straight to the results screen.
The user then has a number of possible actions form the drop down menu (rerun, alert, edit). The updated hit count can be previewed in saved searches, or for more details you can go straight to the results screen.