What happened to my Index Medicus?

From its first printing in 1879 to when publication ceased in 2004, the Index Medicus had proved invaluable for persons wishing to conduct healthcare-related research. With the loss of this resource and the rapid expansion of alternative, online sources, it is vital that persons understand how to appropriately search for and use this information. The purpose of this review is to outline the information sources available, discuss how to use current search technology to best obtain relevant information while minimizing nonproductive references, and give the author's opinion on the reliability of the various informational sources available. Topics to be discussed will include Medical Subject Headings and PICO searches and sources ranging from the National Library of Medicine and Cochrane Reviews to Wikipedia and other sites, such as associations and commercial interest sites.