Search engines, which are each unique web sites that contain a searchable database of web pages, are another way to locate information. You are not searching the entire web when you search a search engine. Instead, you are searching that search engine's database of web sites. All search engines are not created equal, they operate differently, and they contain unique databases of unequal size and currency. The best strategy is to get familiar with a few, and try your searches with more than one.

Most search engines have both basic and advanced search modes. You will probably be able to further refine and qualify your search request if you use the advanced mode. To help you get the most out of a particular search engine, you should check out the Help link that is usually available from the search engine home page. Try some searches in a couple different search engines, using both the basic and advanced search modes.

Patient Care

A physician would like to find some information diabetic ketoacidosis.

1. Connect to the AltaVista search engine by clicking on the web address: http://www.altavista.com.
2. You are now in the Basic Search Option. Click in the white rectangular search form.
3. Type: diabetic ketoacidosis
4. Click on Search
5. Scroll down and look at some of the hits you retrieved. Record the number of hits here __________.
6. Now conduct the same search, but this time add quote marks (" ") around the phrase "diabetic ketoacidosis" to search for the exact phrase.
7. Note the number of hits here _________.
8. Now conduct an Advanced Search in AltaVista by clicking on Advanced. Look for your topic in non-profit web sites only by typing in the lower box: "diabetic ketoacidosis" AND domain:org.
9. Record the number of your hits here __________.
10. Note the differences in retrieval when you further qualified your request.

HotBot: Basic and Super Search Modes

1. Connect to the HotBot search engine:

2. Repeat the above search and note your results here _________.
3. Go back the the main page and click on More search options.
4. Note that you can select North American non-profit domains (.org) from a pull-down menu along with other criteria to narrow your search.
5. Record the number of hits here _________.
6. Note the differences in retrieval between the AltaVista and HotBot search engines.


You may find that using these advanced features help you retrieve relevant hits. More and more of the search engines seem to be making their basic search modes capable of interpreting complex questions, including natural language. Sometimes just adding more terms in the basic search mode can help your retrieval.

Practice Management

Try looking for the phone number of an old med school colleague using HotBot's

1. Connect to HotBot by clicking on the web address: http://www.hotbot.com (or use your back button to get to the HotBot home page)
2. Click on Find People and then enter in your friend's address.  See what you get.
3. Try searching for yourself and see if the information is accurate

1. Go back to the HotBot home page.
2. Select Email Addresses from the left column and type in the information you have in the appropriate boxes. You may or may not find who you are looking for.
3. Now try another e-mail directory site, http://people.yahoo.com.

You want to find out some general information about the new HCFA documentation guidelines.

1. Connect to AltaVista. (http://www.altavista.com)
2. Conduct a Basic Search. Click in the Search Form. Type (including quotations marks) "HCFA documentation guidelines"
3. Review some of your hits.

Continuing Medical Education

For additional practice, try some searches in these search engines and/or directories: