Frequently Asked Questions

What is a well-formulated question? Evidence-based models use the PICO format for framing a question. PICO elements include: Problem/Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome. How does Epistemonikos search algorithm work? It does, magical stuff, very awesome, much code Can I use a boolean search in the regular search interface? Yes, you can. However, only basic functionalities are supported, and it is difficult to predict the output. The advanced search interface is the place to conduct boolean searches What does the diagram of related evidence mean?

The diagram of related evidence is based on direct and indirect connections between articles in Epistemonikos. It is automatically generated based on assumptions that vary depending on the type of article:

  • For broad syntheses: any other broad synthesis that include one or more of the systematic reviews included in the broad synthesis, all of the systematic reviews included in the overview, and all the primary studies included in those systematic reviews.
  • For systematic reviews: any broad synthesis that include the systematic review, any other systematic reviews that include one or more of the primary studies included in the systematic review, and all of the primary studies included in the systematic review or the related systematic reviews.
  • For primary studies: all of the systematic reviews or broad synthesis that include the study and all of the primary studies that are included in one or more of those systematic reviews.