TRIP Database

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TRIP Database
Developed by	TRIP Database Ltd
Genre	Search Engine
License	Freeware
Website	TRIP Database

The TRIP Database is a free clinical search engine. Its primary function is to help clinicians identify the best available evidence with which to answer this clinical questions. It's roots are firmly in the world of Evidence-based medicine

1 History
2 The TRIP Process
3 Who uses TRIP?
4 Specialist search engines
5 External links

[edit] History

The site was created in 1997 as a search tool to help the ATTRACT staff answer clinical questions for GPs in Gwent, South Wales. Shortly afterwards Bandolier (journal) highlighted the TRIP Database and this helped establish the site. In 2003, after a period of steady growth, TRIP became a subscription only service. This was abandoned In September 2006 and since then the growth in usage has been significant.

[edit] The TRIP Process

The core to TRIP’s system is the identification and incorporation of new evidence. The people behind TRIP are heavily involved in clinical question answering systems (e.g., NLH Q&A Service). Therefore, if resources are identified that are useful in the Q&A process they tend to be added to TRIP.

[edit] Who uses TRIP?

A site survey (September 2007) showed that the site is searched over 500,000 times per month, with 69% from health professionals and 31% from members of the public. Of the health professionals around 43% are doctors. Most users come from either the United Kingdom or the USA. By March 2008 usage had increased by over 100% since September 2007, to over 1,000,000 searches per month. A small part of this increase has been the creation of a large number of specialist search engines.

[edit] Specialist search engines

TRIP has recently released 27 specialist search engines. These cover core clinical topics, ranging from Allergy to Urology. These specialist searches mix the core TRIP content with the last 5 years content of the top journals in the area. Typically, the top 10-15 journals are selected based on a mix of impact factor and expert input.