Comments on: DynaMed – an evidence based medicine point of care tool

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:10:55 +0000

Hi Dan,

Yes, there are studies that compare multiple resources. They are a little outdated, but still offer good general information (thanks to Kevin Calusen for the information below).

“One assessed online drug info databases (BMC Med Inform Decis Mak full-text at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6947-7-7.pdf) and found Clinical Pharmacology performed best, barely edging Micromedex.

The other study extended the previous by evaluating online drug info databases’ PDA counterparts (Pharmacotherapy http://www.atypon-link.com/PPI/doi/abs/10.1592/phco.27.12.1651). Lexi performed the best in the PDA category. Lexi’s PDA products have fared well in other specialties since then, including an October 2009 article on nursing-specific databases where it tied for best performer (Int J Med Inform http://bit.ly/4AjHgX).

A final takeaway from the literature on this topic is the room for improvement in these tools – highlighted by the most recent (Oct 2009) study which demonstrated a 4% error rate across all databases.”

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:52:42 +0000

It does not appear that UpToDate was not part of the study you provided link. Are ther studies that compare multiple resources?

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:05:38 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Wikipedia is not a source of information for healthcare professionals as I have openly said on my side more than one. Thanks for the feedback.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:01:49 +0000

“Busy clinicians use “fast and easy” resources expected to answer most of their questions instead of resources designed to provide the best current evidence”

Yes, like the surprising number of physicians who use wikipedia as a resource. Makes me crazy!