Development of a Web-Based Repository for Sharing Biomedical Terminology From Systematic Review Searches: A Case Study

Abstract

Requests for comprehensive searches, such as searches to support systematic reviews, seem to be evolving into routine practice in the health sciences library environment. Collecting terminology for these searches is often a time-consuming process. This case study reports on the development of a searchable web-based repository, MedTerm Search Assist, as a means for librarians to share biomedical terminology from systematic review searches.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaboration
• database development
• informatics
• MedTerm Search Assist
• systematic reviews
• terminology
• usability testing

Acknowledgments

This article is based on a paper presented at the Medical Library Association annual meeting, Minneapolis, MN, May 17, 2011, and a paper presented at the Medical Library Association Mid Atlantic Chapter annual conference, Richmond, VA, October 12, 2011.

Notes

*The format available to respond to questions or statements in the questionnaire is noted in parenthesis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahlam A. Saleh

Ahlam A. Saleh, MD, MLS ([email protected]) is Information Services Librarian, Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, 1501 N Campbell Avenue, P.O. Box 245079, Tucson, AZ 85724.

Melissa A. Ratajeski

Melissa A. Ratajeski, MLIS, AHIP, RLAT ([email protected]) is Reference Librarian

John LaDue

John LaDue, MLIS ([email protected]) is Knowledge Integration Librarian; both at Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.