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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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')