Trip Database Blog

The new TRIP has been live for nearly 3 days now and thankfully there have been no significant problems. We’ve had a steady stream of comments (all positive) and the occasional issue relating to usability. All of these have been highly sensible and we’ll act on these shortly.

1. Pediatrics
2. Obs and gynae
3. Neurology
4. ENT
5. Cancer
6. Mental health
7. Dermatology
8. Diabetes
9. Oral health
10. Gastroenterology

I’ve graphed the results so you can see the variability.

After a few delays the new version of TRIP is out!

The improvements are as follows:

• Much improved search algorithm, more relevant results at the top and less ‘noise’.
• 26 specialist search engines. 26 today and more in the near future. These specialist search engines allow users to simultaneously search the core TRIP content plus the top 10-15 journals specific to that area. I see it as a bridge between users having to go from TRIP to the full, difficult to use Medline.
• New content, we’ve added a load of web 2.0 content, wikis, podcasts and webcasts.
• A trial of linking to UK-approved education. Today the UK but if the trial works we’ll introduce education from around the world.
• A new category ‘More’ to house the new content.
• Ability to arrange results by relevance or by year.
• We’ve removed the big google ads banner.

There’s more, but those are the main improvements.

Tomorrow, a meeting with our web-people to plan the next upgrade….

The new TRIP won’t go live today, but should do Monday next week. This is principally due to styling issues, but also a small bit of content has gone missing and some content stubbornly refuses to move from eTextbooks to the new, ‘More’, section!

So, I thought I’d allow the readers of the blog a sneak preview. If you click here, it’ll take you to the nearly finished version

Enjoy!

Oh yes, feel free to comment via the blog or direct to me jon [ @ ] tripdatabase.com

We tend to get 25% feedback on our Q&A services.

Basically, all our answers to clinical questions get sent out with an embedded link asking for feedback. Many of our frequent users don’t use this feature any more, so 25% is a fairly reasonable feedback rate. Today we’ve received 4 separate feedbacks all rating the service excellent, some of the comments being:

• I was surprised how quickly the question was answered, and that I was asked for clarification.
• The question was related to a group of patients, and it has provided me with further evidence that my ideas and what I am trying to achieve are based on the right lines.
• Please keep up the good work. I sometimes feel that I search for documented evidence regarding a certain aspect of care, but I probably use the wrong search criteria, so it takes me ages to find relevant articles.
• Time constraints are such that I would not have carried any search, so having access to such a resource is invaluable.
• The service is excellent
• Please keep going.
• This was an area I had no knowledge of so it has altered my view.

Sometimes I feel a great deal of pride in what we’re doing…

I’ve been testing the rather exciting specialist search sites on TRIP. Basically, these sites search both core TRIP content plus the top 10-15 journals in that particular speciality. We’ll be launching with 27 but this will soon reach 30. Below are two searches and screen shots of results. Lots to see, but a few things to point out:

Light at the end of the tunnel refers to both the new version of TRIP and part of a song title from one of my favourite bands (Half Man Half Biscuit). With the new site looming I’ve been acutely aware of my previous posts and the subsequent delays!

I first blogged about ‘what’s next for TRIP’ in June.

On July 11th I highlighted that I’d tested a first version of the new search algorithm.

In a July 20th post I predicted an end of September launch.

In August I suggested an early September launch.

On the 3rd Sept my post started with “What a surprise, there has been a delay!” and then suggested an early October launch.

October 6th I suggested the week starting 15th October.

I’d love to be able to guarantee it’ll be out next week, but after this review I’m loathed to! We are very close – honest! In future, for the next upgrades (which are already planned) I’ll try and remember how poor my predictions are!

No, not something we’re considering! However, this is intersting:

Hakia, a natural language search engine, has just added a new spin to search: social networking. Their new Meet Others feature lets you connect with others who are searching for the same things you are.

Click here for full story

Thanks to intueri for this post.

A search on TRIP locates just two articles, neither particularly pertinent, but one links to “Spook house sporotrichosis. A point-source outbreak of sporotrichosis associated with hay bale props in a Halloween haunted-house.”

Thanks to David Rothman for his post (click here) on VisualDxHealth. I like the site (click here) and am hoping to add their content to our patient information collection!