2026-06-04 –, Room #2 Language: English
Introduction
Since April 2022, indexing of MEDLINE records is performed predominantly by algorithm, with occasional human intervention. Recent research has raised concerns about indexing algorithms’ capacity to accurately identify meaningful elements of publications. This identification is a necessary precondition to communicating them to searchers through indexing. Concerns have included the risk of the algorithm overlooking one or more relevant concepts, not making use of appropriately precise controlled vocabulary, or assigning incorrect terms due to rhetorical or technical language. The indexing algorithm from 2022-2024 (MTIA) was a rule-based system with exceptions added over time; a machine learning model (MTIX) was implemented in 2024. NLM Technical Bulletins have noted general improvements in MTIX compared to MTIA. Recent research has explored particularities of evocative language and found improvements in discerning human from nonhuman-animal subjects.
METHODS
This work will replicate and improve on a previous project that assessed overall MTIA indexing performance. Our study will assess MTIX performance by reviewing a large, recent and random sample of MTIX-indexed records to determine whether their main concepts are adequately represented.
Using a web-form displaying the journal, title and abstract of a record, our screeners will identify key concepts that, per their searching experience, would be used to retrieve it and similar records. After establishing agreement between screeners, we will compare the consensus-concepts to the indexing applied by MTIX. We will compare these findings to previous research, noting emergent trends or issues.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION
We intend to make our web-form freely available online. Other results are forthcoming.
Alexandre Amar-Zifkin is the bibliothécaire disciplinaire (subject librarian) for optometry, ophthalmology, vision sciences and neurosciences at the Université de Montréal. From 2012-2022 he was a librarian at the McGill University Health Centre, primarily serving the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital. He has supported a number of knowledge syntheses and been involved in several research projects contemplating the integration of new technologies into health librarian practices.
Tara Landry has accumulated 15 years’ of experience supporting health professionals with their research and educational pursuits, in both hospital and academic libraries. Previously coordinator of the medical libraries of the McGill University Health Centre, Ms Landry currently holds a leadership position as head of research and education support services of the health sciences libraries of the Université de Montréal.
As a medical librarian, her primary research interests are in research support and knowledge syntheses. She is an active member of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA/ABSC) and has previously served on the Board in 2020-2023.