Author year
Appraisal of: Mangat G, Sharma S. Comparison of search design and output of Embase using two different search interfaces: Embase.com and OVID (MSR30). ISPOR 2023. May 7-10 2023 Boston, MA, USA. https://www.ispor.org/docs/default-source/intl2023/ispor23gsinghmsr30poster126728-pdf.pdf
Reviewer(s):
Anna Brown, Su Golder
Full Reference:
Poster: Mangat G, Sharma S. Comparison of search design and output of Embase using two different search interfaces: Embase.com and OVID (MSR30). ISPOR 2023. May 7-10 2023 Boston, MA, USA. https://www.ispor.org/docs/default-source/intl2023/ispor23gsinghmsr30poster126728-pdf.pdf
Abstract: Mangat G, Sharma S. MSR30 Comparison of Search Design and Output of Embase Using Two Different Search Interfaces: Embase.com and OVID. Value in Health 2023;26(6 Supplement):S283. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2023.03.1566
Short description:
The study reported in this conference poster compared searching Embase via Embase.com and Ovid. It investigated differences in coverage, search results (using different syntax and 10 different keywords) and operational features (each rated out of 10 by four researchers). Findings included:
Embase on Ovid included more journals but fewer conference abstracts than Embase.com
Identical searches consistently retrieved fewer results in Ovid Embase than in Embase.com and even a search by journal name retrieved different results in the two interfaces
Embase.com was preferred by researchers overall (higher mean score on operational characteristics) and judged to be easier to use and less complex than Embase on Ovid
Differences in indexing were identified via a search for ‘mesothelioma’, which had 12 subheadings in Ovid Embase, but only three of these terms were listed as mesothelioma subheadings in Embase.com. However, the same 13 subheadings were listed for diabetes mellitus in both interfaces.
Limitations stated by the author(s):
None stated.
Limitations stated by the reviewer(s):
The methodology is not described in detail, presumably because of the limited space available in a conference poster/abstract. For example, the search strings used for testing and numbers of records retrieved, sources of coverage information and details of the characteristics rated by four researchers are not reported. It is therefore difficult to appraise the reliability and generalizability of the study findings.
Study Type:
Single study.
Related Chapters:
Service providers and search interfaces
Tags:
Embase
Ovid
Embase.com