Abstract
OBJECTIVES
If we are to continue to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, it is important that health professionals, community providers, researchers, academics and policymakers learn from research and work that has already been undertaken. This study aimed to experimentally develop and test a search filter to retrieve literature relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
METHODS
Established search filter methods were followed:
1. Expert Advisory Group involvement,
2. Gold Standard Set of relevant references,
3. Relevant MeSH and textwords identification,
4. Search filter development,
5. Post hoc relevance assessment, and6. PubMed validation.
LESSONS LEARNED
A search filter to identify literature relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health was developed (Sensitivity: 84.8%, Precision 81.2%).By combining the search filter with topic searches for use in PubMed, it was possible to create a sophisticated “one-click” searching solution (LIt.search) within the Lowitja website.
The technical feasibility of developing additional search filters for other Indigenous populations has also been investigated.
IMPLICATIONS
This search filter has potential benefits for all involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as it removes a barrier to knowledge use by enabling easy and effective engagement with the published literature. The LIt.search tool can be freely accessed through the Lowitja website(www.lowitja.org.au). This approach to knowledge retrieval could be considered for other Indigenous populations internationally.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the Lowitja Institute.
If we are to continue to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, it is important that health professionals, community providers, researchers, academics and policymakers learn from research and work that has already been undertaken. This study aimed to experimentally develop and test a search filter to retrieve literature relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
METHODS
Established search filter methods were followed:
1. Expert Advisory Group involvement,
2. Gold Standard Set of relevant references,
3. Relevant MeSH and textwords identification,
4. Search filter development,
5. Post hoc relevance assessment, and6. PubMed validation.
LESSONS LEARNED
A search filter to identify literature relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health was developed (Sensitivity: 84.8%, Precision 81.2%).By combining the search filter with topic searches for use in PubMed, it was possible to create a sophisticated “one-click” searching solution (LIt.search) within the Lowitja website.
The technical feasibility of developing additional search filters for other Indigenous populations has also been investigated.
IMPLICATIONS
This search filter has potential benefits for all involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as it removes a barrier to knowledge use by enabling easy and effective engagement with the published literature. The LIt.search tool can be freely accessed through the Lowitja website(www.lowitja.org.au). This approach to knowledge retrieval could be considered for other Indigenous populations internationally.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the Lowitja Institute.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Event | 8th Health Services and Policy Research Conference - Intercontinental Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand Duration: 2 Dec 2013 → 4 Dec 2013 http://www.healthservicesconference.com.au/hsraanz2013/ (main page) |
Conference
Conference | 8th Health Services and Policy Research Conference |
---|---|
Country/Territory | New Zealand |
City | Wellington |
Period | 2/12/13 → 4/12/13 |
Internet address |