📖 Overview

After developing a focused clinical question, the next step is to search for the best available evidence. In this module, you will learn where to search, how to build effective search strategies, and how to retrieve high-quality evidence efficiently.

🎯 Learning Objectives

• Explain the purpose of evidence searching.
• Identify appropriate evidence sources.
• Understand the evidence hierarchy.
• Develop effective search strategies using keywords and Boolean operators.
• Retrieve relevant evidence efficiently.

Why It Matters

A systematic and efficient literature search ensures that clinical decisions are based on the best available evidence while saving valuable time.

Clinical Example

A physician wants to know whether corticosteroids improve outcomes in Bell's palsy. Learn how to identify the best database, develop a search strategy, and retrieve the highest-quality evidence.

Key Takeaways

• Start with the highest level of evidence whenever possible.
• Use appropriate databases for clinical questions.
• Effective search strategies improve search accuracy.