Filtered Information Resources
I have the background information down. Now what?
Once you have a solid understanding of your topic, next investigate Filtered Information Resources. These resources, sometimes also called “digested” or “synthesized” resources, are structured to save you time and effort by providing varying levels of analysis.
Examples of Filtered Information Resources:
Cochrane Systematic Reviews
Cochrane Systematic Reviews utilize stringent and explicit methods to collect, critically appraise, and succinctly summarize the best available medical literature, including individual studies. Generally Cochrane Systematic Reviews answer a specific clinical question.
- The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews provides full-text access to Cochrane Systematic Reviews
Non-Cochrane Systematic Reviews
A Systematic Review in general is “an overview of primary studies that used explicit and reproducible methods”.1
- The Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) critically assesses systematic reviews from a variety of medical journals.
Critically Appraised Articles
Critically Appraised Articles analyze a single research article, judge its validity, and publish an enhanced abstract of the article.
- ACP Journal Club offers enhanced abstracts of studies identified as being methodologically sound and clinically relevant.
1. Greenhalgh T. How to read a paper. BMJ 1997;315:672-5.