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UGI Learner

The UGI Learner Web site is a secure Web site that contains the entire Users' Guides to the Medical Literature: A Manual for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice CD-ROM content.  

Functional components of UGI Learner include:

  • Internet Access via Private Web site: UGI Learner adds content and interactivity layers to the print and CD-ROM products but can only be viewed after the subscriber has been identified and authenticated.

  • Common User Interface: All CD-ROM features are reproduced in the UGI Learner Web site, including browsing, searching, keywords, navigational systems, references, glossaries, illustrations and tables. Someone familiar with the CD-ROM will be completely at home with the UGI Learner .

  • Alternative Views: The UGI Learner has enhanced browsing and searching capabilities that include Boolean search terms and searches restricted to the glossary, references, or tips. Alternative browsing modes outline the guides organized by the "pillars" of critical appraisal (validity, results, application). Users can quickly move through relevant parts of the Guides and Tools by declaring a question type, level of detail, and information need.

  • Asking Questions: UGI Learner has simple question-building aids that can help to formulate well-built clinical questions in the PICO format.

  • Finding Evidence: Tips for building search strategies optimized for particular types of questions are included in UGI Learner . Most search strategies are linked to "live" searches of publicly available databases (PubMed, National Guideline Clearinghouse) so that users can view current performance of search strategies.

  • Key Concepts: Key concepts are summarized in a short "tip" format (one paragraph or less). One or more tips are developed for each Users’ Guides section and are linked to the content.

  • Glossary: The full Users’ Guides glossary is extended with more cross-links between terms, links to calculators, and expanded explanations of some concepts.

  • Citations: All citations to references have second-level links to the source entry, abstract and possibly full-text article through publicly available Internet bibliographic databases. Full text links are available for articles published in JAMA and/or Archives Journals. Additional citations, of interest to Users’ Guides readers, include links to the Rational Clinical Examination series of articles published in JAMA.

  • Calculators: Many of the Users' Guides refer to quantitative concepts that are key to applying evidence to specific patient problems. The UGI Learner includes links to interactive calculators that help illustrate, explain and apply quantitative concepts, including pre-test probabilities, likelihood ratios, and NNTs.

  • Worksheets: Interactive worksheets will help users apply the Users’ Guides to specific articles from the literature.

  • Illustrative Cases: Each section of the Users’ Guides uses a clinical scenario to illustrate key concepts. The UGI Learner adds more scenarios to appeal to a broader range of clinical specialties.

  • Interactive Tour and Help System: UGI Learner includes comprehensive online help. For beginners, there is a visual tour that introduces users to the online layout and functional areas. In addition, there is a help request system that automatically emails support staff and allows users to make suggestions and receive quick feedback.