The Cochrane Collaboration is an ongoing international project that seeks to answer clinical questions in all medical fields by using meta-analysis of both published and unpublished studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)are used for the meta-analyses. The project started originally in the field of maternal/fetal medicine, therefore it is much better in this area than some other subjects. Continuously updated.

TRIP = "Turning Research Into Practice." This is a search engine that looks through a combination of 26 databases of hyper links. At present there are over 10,000 links to evidence-based topics. The engine currently searches key words in the titles only. It searches many of the other sites listed here, but may only have a partial version, such as a Cochrane abstract. As an example, it can retrieve references to a Cochrane study, a POEM and other sites all with one search.

POEMS = "Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters." CATs = "Clinically Appraised Topics." These are essentially equivalent in function. These are brief reviews which are a summary of the best article or articles that a clinician can find to answer a specific clinical question. The best POEMS or CATs are reviews of either a meta-analysis or RCT, but when not available, the best evidence that the author could find is used. There are specific criteria that are used to determine relevance and validity. POEMS and CATs referenced here are peer reviewed. These are now getting harder to find on the web for free access.

he American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine journals. We are now able to search all of the available online ACP-ASIM journals. The database called "Best Evidence," available on CD-ROM, consists of articles from the same  journals: The ACP Journal Club, Evidence-Based Medicine and Annals of Internal Medicine. These are not original articles, but are usually either meta-analyses or summaries of important RCTs. The subject matter is supposed to cover all fields (Pediatrics, Medicine, OB-Gyn, etc) but much more is available for general medicine questions. As of the year 2000 the two journals ACP Journal Club and Evidence-based Medicine will merge to become just ACP Journal Club. Quarterly Updates.

A British primary care site. Web-based magazine. Gives "Bullets" of EBM for the general practitioner. Published monthly by Oxford.

The guide has been produced by Arbor Communications Pty Ltd. The editor in chief is Dr. Tony Helman. Dr. Helman is a physician and nutritionist based in Australia. Dr. Helman has designed this site for use by health professionals, and specifically family physicians. He uses evidence-based reviews extensively on this site. Excellent for looking up vitamin information and the latest in nutrition research.

This site is limited in scope, but has some very nice Emergency Room topic coverage. Systematic Reviews and POEM-like analyses.

A comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents produced by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans. This actually searches on pre-selected sites that have published guidelines on many topics. Sites referred to include everything from the National Cancer Institute to various medical specialty sites.

The report of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. "Widely regarded as the premier reference source on the effectiveness of clinical preventive services-screening tests for early detection of disease, immunizations to prevent infections, and counseling for risk reduction."

This has all of the articles available through PubMed, but uses a clinical filter to help answer questions of interest to a clinician and to filter out irrelevant articles. The site uses the following search categories: therapy, diagnosis, etiology, and prognosis. At the top of the search page, you can click on this table to find out what the filter actually does. Make sure that you use the "See related articles" button, which finds articles similar to one you may like.

This site is an excellent resource for those of you who have a PocketPC or are looking to get one. InfoRetriever is the best (and only) EBM resource for a handheld. The information is also available by web for those who pay the fee. Information at your fingertips include Cochrane reviews, JFP POEMs, Guide to Clinical Preventive services, Medical Calculators and Diagnostic decision aids and calculators, as well as the 5 Minute Clinical Consult!