Research
Literature review on a question
Exhaustive PubMed search, tick-box sorting, retrieval of open-access full texts, a Word synthesis and one slide per reference.
Screenshot of a real tool · fictitious data, names blurred
The problem
Article introduction, research project, staff talk, dissertation: every question starts with a review of the literature, which is slow to build and hard to make exhaustive.
Step-by-step method
- Frame the question (population, intervention or exposure, comparator, outcome).
- Exhaustive PubMed search: several search strings, with the raw results and their counts kept.
- Interactive tick-box table: references sorted by year, study type and journal; you keep or discard.
- Retrieve the full texts: open access first (PubMed Central), then your university’s institutional access, in compliance with licences.
- Evidence table: for each study, design, sample size, primary endpoint, result, limitations.
- Word synthesis and one slide per reference, with the abstract in the speaker notes.
- Identify the gaps: unanswered questions, which are candidate research or thesis topics.
Deliverable
A sorted and filed bibliography, an evidence table, a Word synthesis and a slide deck.
Safeguards
Every statement points to a verifiable reference. Licensed full texts stay in your personal workspace.
Starter prompt
Question: [PICO question]. Build 3 PubMed search strings, give the number of results for each, then present the references from the last 5 years in a tick-box table (year, journal, study type, sample size).