Missing Fields=Misinformed: Why EndNote Customization Is Crucial

Background: After completing a PubMed search, a librarian will often import the retrieved citations into bibliographic management software such as EndNote for delivery to a patron. However, based on the citation information provided, can the patron easily tell whether the article was retracted, whether there are any comments on the article, or if the authors have any potential conflicts of interest? If the answer is no, librarians need to consider the potential risk this introduces, especially if the article is being considered for inclusion into a systematic review, driving a clinical decision, or as a reference in a grant application.

Description: The standard PubMed import filter in EndNote does not automatically include many important fields, including retraction, comment notices, or expressions of concern. Also of note, conflict of interest statements are placed into illogical fields within EndNote. Recognizing these problems, we created a customized EndNote import filter to ensure that all crucial MEDLINE fields would be brought into the software and available for review. We are now talking with librarians within our department to establish best practices for delivering citations depending on project workflow. For example, screening citations within the DistillerSR software requires different considerations compared to an outputted bibliography. .

Conclusion: Our goal is to prevent patrons from making misinformed decisions due to incomplete citation records. This lightning talk will demonstrate the steps needed to customize the EndNote PubMed import filter and how to edit preference settings and output styles to display the new fields.