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Sorting out science on the web.

Don’t have a lot of time? Need a shortcut to the best clinical search engines and databases? You’ve come to right page! Table 1 contains a quick guide to some of the common clinical search engines and databases. The table lists the types of articles each database or search engine contains and any unique content or features related to the website. 

If you have a more time and you’re ready to dive-in, read on! The links in this section contain the details for each search engine and database including a short explanation about the website and any fees that may be required to access the articles (e.g., open access or fee-based service). All of these search engines and databases offer free services but there may be fees involved to view the full-text articles.

Links to Free Databases & Search Engines

• Cochrane: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) = review articles, protocols, editorials, and supplements published into a comprehensive database.
  • The Cochrane database is a subset of the following databases: PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trial Registry Platform
    1. Articles may be open access or require a fee to view
  • CENTRAL: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) – concentrated global database of source-reports for controlled clinical trials (some are unpublished)
• Google Scholar: an AI search engine (not a database) providing a wide range of articles, protocols, presentations, online books, law reviews, and news articles.
  • Some publications may not be reviewed and may not be published
  • Articles may be open access or require a fee to view
• MedlinePlus: A searchable health information website which includes the National Library of Medicine (NLM), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other US federal agencies.
  • Contains carefully selected, reliable information on health topics, medical tests (reviewed every 3 years), nutrition, genetics, A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia, drugs & supplements 
• PubMed: A database maintained by the US National Library of Congress
  • Biomedical and scientific articles from:
    • MEDLINE: a project that oversees article selection for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) used in the database and PubMed
    • PubMed Central (PMC): managed by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information group (NCBI) and includes archived articles from both the National Institute of Health (NIH) and NLM
  • Search records are indexed with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  • Articles and books may be open access or require a fee to view
• SEMANTIC SCHOLAR: an AI search engine that searches scientific publications
  • The database uses an AI search algorithm to accelerate result output and help overcome information overload
  • Quickly identify open access articles by looking for the “PDF” symbol below the search results
  • Articles and books may be open access or require a fee to view
• ScienceDirect: free database by Elsevier containing a broad range of scientific, peer-reviewed articles and online books
  • Articles and books may be open access or require a fee to view
• TRIP: Turning Research Into Practice (TRIP) database locates clinical articles and eBooks
  • Based on the TRIP Evidence Pyramid
  • Useful for locating clinical guidelines, regulatory guidance documents and understanding scientific evidence behind clinical decisions
  • TRIP is color coded (green, yellow, red) to help identify the strength in quality of an article source in supporting evidence-based decisions used in clinical practice

Looking for the latest info on drugs?

Has your doctor prescribed a new medication? Did you lose the supplemental information for your prescription? Not to worry! Find links to reliable drug information below:

• DailyMed: A search engine for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug and biological product information
  • Labeling insert information for prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, some medical devices, and medical gases for humans and animals
• FDA Med Guides: The FDA approved drug database and alphabetical listing
• European Medicines Agency: A search engine for medication summaries, packaging and use information, labeling, and supporting documentation (e.g., investigation plans, risk management plans, assessment reports, etc.)
• NHS (National Health Service): A database from the United Kingdom containing medication information for prescription drugs
• Have you thought about pharmacogenomics? Here is a good place to start learning more. This NIH websitecontains other useful information.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical practice guidelines from expert panel groups that include doctors and scientists are often organized by third-party groups. These guidelines may require fees to access the full-text articles. Medical guidelines cover a variety of diagnostic practices, diseases, and treatment options and act like guideposts or rules for your doctor when making decisions about your health care. These recommendations will help you understand why your doctor makes certain decisions about the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of your health care issues.

• The NCCIH (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) webpage links to websites that house some medical guidelines.
• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) maintains a page of various scientific guidelines from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
• The NICE (National Institute for Health Care Excellence) in the UK has a searchable database of clinical practice guidelines.