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Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Case Study Scenario

Case Study

 Mrs. Hernandez, a 45 year-old Spanish speaking woman, has been recently diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2.

  • She is admitted to UWMC with uncontrolled hypertension
  • She takes fenugreek
  • Prescribed medications include Lisinopril, Clonidine, and Metformin

Search the databases below for evidence-based information on fenugreek used for diabetes.

For more information on each database, see Find Articles/Databases.

Search databases for evidence-based information on fenugreek used for diabetes.

PubMed    

Filter to Article Type

Case Study example:

  • In the PubMed Search box, type: (fenugreek OR trigonella) AND diabetes
  • Then filter from left sidebar to: English, Human
  • For evidence-based articles, filter by Article Type to: Randomized controlled trial, meta-analysis, clinical trial

Filter to Subject

Case Study example:

  • In the PubMed Search box, type:  Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/th
  • Then filter to:  Complementary Medicine and/or Dietary Supplements under Subjects.
  • This strategy will produce results about alternative treatments for diabetes.
  • For evidence-based articles, filter under Article Type to: Randomized controlled trial, meta-analysis, clinical trial

Search PubMed Clinical Queries

Search By Clinical Study Category

Case Study example:

  • Type: (fenugreek OR trigonella) AND diabetes
  • Select Therapy and Narrow (specific) search.

Find Systematic Reviews

Case Study example:

  • Type: (fenugreek OR trigonella) AND diabetes

 

CINAHL Complete: Nursing and Allied Health      

Limit to Research Article

Case Study example:

  • Type in the Search box: (fenugreek OR trigonella) and diabetes
  • Click on Research Article under Limit your Results.

Limit by Publication Type

Case Study example:

  • Type in Search box: (fenugreek OR trigonella) and diabetes
  • In Limit your Results, select Clinical Trial or Systematic Review or Research under Publication Type.

Limit by Clinical Query

Case Study example:

  • Type in Search box: (fenugreek OR trigonella) and diabetes
  • Select any of the choices under Clinical Queries limits.

Limit by Journal Subset

Case Study example:

  • Type in Search box: (fenugreek OR trigonella) and diabetes
  • In Limit your Results, select Alternative/Complementary Therapies under Journal Subset.

Limit by Evidence-Based Practice

Case Study example:

  • Type in Search box: (fenugreek OR trigonella) and diabetes
  • Click on Evidence-Based Practice under Limit your Results.

 

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)   

Case Study example:

  • In the Search box, type: fenugreek AND diabetes
  • In this case, there are no systematic reviews on this topic. You do retrieve, however, some citations to clinical trials.

 

Natural Medicines    

Case Study example:

  • Type fenugreek in Search box and then click on Professional Monograph: Fenugreek.
  • Note the diabetes evidence grade under Clinical Bottom Line/Effectiveness.

 

DynaMed     

Case Study example:

  • Go to Diabetes mellitus type 2 and
    • look under Treatment>Diet for use of fenugreek
    • OR, click on Search Within Text link and follow directions to find fenugreek

 

EMBASE     

Case Study example:

  • Type in Search box: fenugreek and diabetes and ('clinical trial'/exp or 'controlled study'/exp or 'controlled clinical trial' or 'randomized controlled trial')