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Evidence-based Chiropractic
Advice from the reference librarians 

Jump to: Finding the evidence | Keeping current | Alerting services | Organizing the evidence

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FINDING THE EVIDENCE

Use online indexes to capture citations to journal articles. Effective searching for relevant journal articles on a case-by-case basis is an important skill for patient care. On our Research Databases page, read about Index to Chiropractic Literature, MANTIS, and PubMed. You can increase your proficiency in searching the chiropractic and medical literature by taking any available online tutorials. If convenient, set up an appointment with a reference librarian for a "Quick Class".

Occasionally scan our list of New Materials as well as look for book reviews in publications in chiropractic trade journals. Authors of well-written books provide valuable interpretations of the scientific literature and references to original sources.

KEEPING CURRENT

Setting aside time to read chiropractic journals, as well as some core medical journals, is an important habit to cultivate. At the busiest times, it might seem impossible. Therefore it is especially worthwhile to subscribe to professional review newsletters.

Chiropractic Newsletters and Updates

Case Reports (free on Web) and Clinical Pearls ($$$ e-mail)

http://www.coxtechnic.com/casereports.asp

800-441-5571

coxchiro@verizon.net

Editor: James M. Cox, D.C., D.A.C.B.R.

Dr. Cox shares case reports once a month via e-mail (free) and on to the Web site for public information.  For subscribers, Dr. Cox posts clinical research pearls & commentary on an interesting article or topic.  He discusses its relevance to clinical practice, and its application to Cox Technic as well.  The Web page includes samples, and specific instructions for how to subscribe. 

The Chiropractic Report  ($$$ print; library subscribes)
http://www.chiropracticreport.com/
800-506-2225
Editor: David Chapman-Smith, LL.B.
Web site includes. A synopsis of current issue and an "Index to Back Titles".  Each bimonthly issue features one main review article and shorter items on important developments in the profession, practice and research. Summaries are fully referenced.  Exemplary articles from 2004: "Chiropractic management for lumbar disc herniation" and "California study confirms cost-effectiveness". 

Chiropractic Resource Organization  (free on Web)

http://www.chiro.org/  ; select "The Links". 

There are two parts in this section, maintained by volunteers:   "Articles of Interest" and "The Links".  Both include citations and brief abstracts, and links to full-text when available.  Most full-text articles are not from peer-reviewed journals; however, the full-text articles often conclude with references that may be useful.  These categories are in "The Links" section: Iatrogenic injury, Shoulder, Evidence-based practice, Patient satisfaction, Antibiotic use, and Cost effectiveness.

DC Consult    ($$$  on Web; library subscribes)
http://www.dcconsult.com/

A developing service released in 2008 from FCER and Action Potential, the Web site has built-in simplified version of MANTIS search, patient care information, discussions of latest research, and reviews of efficacy and utlization of procedures and therapies for specific conditions.

Dr. Murphy's Article Review ($$$ on Web)

http://www.danmurphydc.com/newsletter.htm

Dr. Dan Murphy is constantly reviewing the scientific literature on chiropractic, nutrition, and injury.  Each week, he reviews the most interesting of these articles in his Article Review. 

See also American Journal of Clinical Chiropractic. Dr. Murphy is a regular contributor.
http://www.idealspine.com/pages/AJCC_INDEX.htm under "Resources" has issues from 2000-present.  LCCW Library maintains a bibliography of Dr. Murphy's articles in AJCC.

Dynamic Chiropractic (free on Web; free print subscription for DCs; library subscribes)
http://www.chiroweb.com/
Broad coverage of professional issues includes book reviews and articles about the implications of influential research studies.  

Research Review Service   ($$$ on Web)

http://www.researchreviewservice.com/

Editor:  Shawn Thistle, D.C.

A database of reviews with new weekly reviews and alerts to relevant studies from more than 50 medical, chiropractic and physical therapy journals including chiropractic, manual medicine, physiotherapy, acupuncture, rehabilitation, exercise sciences, orthopedic-clinical testing, physical therapy, athletic therapy and health and wellness. Sample reviews available online.

This Week in Chiropractic (free, delivered by e-mail)

http://www.fcer.org/subscribe.htm  

800-622-6309

Publisher:   Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER)

It is a vendor-sponsored news digest in e-mail format that concludes with a Research Review.  All reviews are indexed by broad category and available for printing as PDFs.

FCER also has FCER Advance magazine (free on Web) a quarterly digital magazine of news, articles, interviews, research information for the chiropractic professional. Fill out the free subscription form at https://www.fcer.org/fceradvance_signup.asp.

Annual membership in FCER includes a subscription to the MANTIS database.

General Newsletters

The Back Letter  ($$$ print + Web; library subscribes)
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
http://www.lww.com/product/?0894-7376
800-787-8981
Briefings on important articles about the diagnosis and treatment of spinal problems and back pain relay critical news on scientific developments. Editors select articles that will have the most impact on practice. Available online from 1999.

Bone & Joint: The Newsletter on Musculoskeletal Medicine ($$$ print + Web; library subscribes)
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
http://www.lww.com/product/?0894-7376
800-787-8981
Short feature articles with references on selected topics cover a broad array of research with implications for clinical care. Contributing authors also critically review trends in management. A typical issue might address topics concerning prevention, diagnosis and therapy, nutrition, athletic injuries, osteoporosis, pain, and bone development. Includes a CME quiz. Available online from 1999.

Portals

Medscape (free on Web; must register)
http://www.medscape.com/
The editable profile entered at registration helps determine the news and spotlighted articles displayed on your personal page. You can view specialty home pages at any time. The tab "Resource Centers" provides convenient way to view Medscape's collection of key clinical content. Gathered resources cover over 60 topics arranged into categories such as news , latest from the literature, diagnosis and treatment, practice guidelines, and patient education. Among the topics are: autism, geriatric care, integrative medicine, restless leg syndrome, smoking, spinal disorders, sports medicine, and vaccines. Site displays advertising. E-mail news service is available.

Alerting Services

My NCBI (free on Web; must register)
http://www.pubmed.gov/ then click on My NCBI in the left sidebar or go directly to the registration form.  See also My NCBI Help for text and videoclips illustrating procedures.

This alerting service from the National Library of Medicine has many features including stored searches, filters for organizing search results, and e-mail notification of new articles as soon as they are indexed in PubMed.  Use My NCBI to automatically gather citations of newly published articles based on the search strategies stored in your profile. The reference librarians can offer advice on formulating effective searches on topic and/or journals of interest.  To register and use it, your browser must accept cookies.  Another option is to save search strategies as RSS feeds.  Use PubMed Help/FAQ for more information.

IngentaConnect (free on Web for limited service; must register).
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/
E-mail notification of new article titles based on your profile. Free service is limited to five journal titles. Useful for researchers who need have broad, diverse coverage. It often includes book chapters, congresses, and articles in journals not indexed in PubMed, MANTIS, or Index to Chiropractic Literature.

ORGANIZING THE EVIDENCE

Establish a system for filing and finding the citations and articles that you are using to support insurance claims, your statements in patient education publications, and your consultations with other providers. Some people file articles by topic, while others file by journal titles. It is important to keep an organized list of references, and citation management software can be a handy tool--especially for writers. Citations have to be complete so that anyone can find the article for themselves.

Below is one example of a complete citation for a journal article.  There are many styles but all include the author, article title, name of journal, publication date, volume and issue numbers, and pagination.

Mior S. Manipulation and mobilization in the treatment of chronic pain. Clin J Pain. 2001 Dec;17(4 Suppl):S70-6.

More examples of citations and information about citation management software are available on the Writing and Publishing page.