Cochrane Library
(Wiley InterScience)
|
| First
published in 1996, the Cochrane Library is a collection of seven databases, a unique
source of reliable and up-to-date information on the effects of intervention and
prevention options in health care. Updated on a quarterly schedule, the Cochrane Library
is designed to provide information and evidence to support decisions of health care
professionals and to inform those receiving the care. |
| To access the
Cochrane Library, select it from the list of Reference Databases at http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html. For help using the database,
click on the Help link at the top of the page.
Seven Databases — The Cochrane Library consists of seven databases: the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR; Cochrane Reviews); Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE; Other Reviews); the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Clinical Trials); the Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR; Methods Studies); Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA; Technology Assessments); NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED; Economic Evaluations); and, About The Cochrane Collaboration and the Cochrane Collaborative Review Groups (About; Cochrane Group). You have the option of searching all the databases or a select number. BROWSE — Approximately 300 new reviews (results and discussion, meta-analysis and an odds-ration diagram for the review) and protocols (the outline of reviews in preparation, including the background, rationale and methods) are added to the Cochrane Library each year. Articles can be browsed by clicking on the link of one of the databases. With the exception of CENTRAL, you will be presented with an alphabetical listing (by article) of the reviews and protocols. Because of the large number of records in its holdings, CENTRAL takes the user directly to the Advanced Search page where the topic can be narrowed.
SEARCH — To conduct a Basic Search of the Cochrane Library, enter your term (or terms linked with a Boolean Operator such as AND, OR, or NEAR). If desired, you can use the pull-down menu to search for your terms within the full text of a document, or to search for a specific author, title, etc. To narrow your search further, click on the Advanced Search link. The default search searches all the databases at once; the Advanced Search allows you to specify which database(s) to search. More information about the databases is available from the More Info link. |
| RESULTS —
When the results are presented, a list is provided of the results from the Cochrane
Reviews. To view the results from any of the other databases, click on the name of the
database. Included with the citation, next to the text-link, is an icon
indicating whether the record is a review or a protocol. Also included within
the citation record is an indication whether the record is either new, or updated, or if
any commentary has been added. TEXT OPTIONS — In many cases, two full-text formats are offered: PDF or HTML. The full-text is displayed within a frame format. In the left frame, if the option is available, a link to the PDF version of article is below the title. Links to various sections of the HTML-version of the article are listed below the title. In the right frame, the HTML-text of the article is displayed (see below).
MAIL / SAVE / SEARCH HISTORY — To e-mail, save, or create a search history within the Cochrane Library (and all content on Wiley InterScience), one must register and create a profile. To do so, use the Save to My Profile link in the upper right corner of the page EXPORT / PRINT — Citations can be marked and exported to either the hard drive or an appropriate storage device without registration. The citations (or citations and abstracts) are saved as plain text files. If, however, only one article is needed, another option would be to choose the desired full-text format and print. |
B. Gallagher, 3/05 • A. Izenstark, rev. 8/08 |
