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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 3 | Page : 85-86 |
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Imperative role of internet in biomedical literature search and data collection: An update
Prince Kumar
Department of Prosthodontics, Rama Dental College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| Date of Submission | 15-Feb-2022 |
| Date of Decision | 27-Apr-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 05-May-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 20-Jun-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Prince Kumar
Department of Prosthodontics, Rama Dental College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jpcdoh.jpcdoh_7_22
How to cite this article:
Kumar P. Imperative role of internet in biomedical literature search and data collection: An update. J Prim Care Dent Oral Health 2022;3:85-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Kumar P. Imperative role of internet in biomedical literature search and data collection: An update. J Prim Care Dent Oral Health [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 23];3:85-6. Available from: http://www.jpcdoh.org/text.asp?2022/3/3/85/347803 |
Sir,
Precise literature search related to the subject of interest is one of the prime steps in biomedical research. Today, most scientific publications are electronically available on the web, making the problem of retrieving and mining documents and data a challenging task. Theoretically, literature search is a dynamic and interactive process; therefore, for quality research, we need to have comprehensive and periodic searches using some user-friendly interfaces. Searching biomedical literature is a very organized and challenging event. It requires systematic planning to develop a logical clinical question or precise keyword.[1],[2] Unplanned and messy efforts may result in up-shooting several apparently irrelevant articles and thus discouraging the professional to search further. Literature of life sciences seems to be unmemorable because of its exponentially increasing volume and interdisciplinary nature. Its access is essential for several types of users, including biomedical researchers as well as clinicians. The informative pool or database of biomedical literature doubles every 5 years. However, with the ease of Internet access, the amount of biomedical literature and its exploration in electronic format is on the rapid rise.[3],[4] Using Internet, any person can freely access this literature anytime, anywhere. “Internet” is nothing but a collection of more than thousands of interconnected computer networks worldwide that makes it possible to share information almost instantly. Web search engine is a tool designed to search for information on the World Wide Web (www.xyz.com), which may be in the form of web pages, images, information, and other types of files. Some popular internet-based search engines related to medical literature include Google, Google Scholar, Scirus, and Yahoo search engine, and databases include MEDLINE, PubMed, and MEDLARS. A budding researcher must also keep in mind the pros and cons of a particular search engine/database while searching for particular information. The search engine of Google alone contains about 4 billion web pages which could form a stack of paper more than 220 miles high if printed.[4] For exploring any specific information, one needs to enter the appropriate keyword in the search text box of the search engine. The resultant information on the search result page is mostly available from journals, databases, textbooks, and e-journals in the form of web pages, text materials, images, etc. Recently, high-speed Internet like 4G/5G has created a boom in the field of biomedical investigations and research. With the click of mouse/button, it offers quick and economical access to medical literature in the form of databases, dictionaries, journals, textbooks, dental product information, continuing education resources, and e-journals. Nowadays, most scientific publications are electronically available on the Web, making the problem of retrieving and mining documents and data a challenging task.[5],[6],[7] Therefore, research and development in medical literature search must be directed to provide intelligent and personalized results during the search of useful information through scientific publications. Paradoxically, internet usage has also opened back doors for various scientific misconducts such as plagiarism/double publications/self-citations. We may comprehend the Internet as a double-sided sword as its right use is very useful, while its misuse use is very unsafe. Misconducts can lead to a study losing its entire reliability. Furthermore, it can lead to ineffective or harmful treatment being available or patients being denied effective treatment. Rivalry among professionals, desire for name and fame, pressures of academic promotion, and conflicting personal and professional obligations are some factors that can pressurize individuals to indulge in these frauds. Reports keep sprouting from different countries about work being plagiarized and data fabricated.[8],[9] Hence, it is desirable for authors to genuinely explore the relevant information from the Internet and stay away from delinquencies such as plagiarism and related misconducts. Finally, we must remember that an honest and well-planned systematic search of literature that uses available electronic resources effectively is more likely to produce quality research without any delinquency.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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