Table 1 Keywords used in the automated searches of Medline and EMBASE

#1

diagnostic OR (diagnostic test) OR (clinical diagnostic) OR (medical diagnosis) OR (physical examinations) OR sensitivity OR specificity OR (likelihood ratio) OR prediction OR (predictive value) OR (reproducibility of results) OR (Bayes theorem)

Search 2

Parameters defining the study's dependent variable:

#2

(UTI) OR (urinary tract infection) OR (urinary infection) OR (urinary tract)

Search 3

Parameters defining the predictive variables studied:

#3

(urinary symptoms) OR (physical examination) OR signs OR (clinical history) OR dysuria OR (burning urination) OR (pain urination) OR (painful urination) OR frequency OR (urinary frequency) OR urgency OR (urinary urgency) OR (nocturnal incontinence) OR (diurnal incontinence) OR (burning sensation) OR (urinary tenesmus) OR (difficulty micturition) OR (vaginal discharge) OR (vaginal irritation) OR (genital discomfort) OR (perineal discomfort) OR (lower abdominal discomfort) OR (suprapubic tenderness) OR (hypogastric discomfort) OR (cold chills) OR (general malaise) OR dyspareunia OR (lumbar tenderness) OR (flank pain) OR (costovertebral angle tenderness) OR (lower abdominal pain) OR fever OR (genital erythema) OR (genital ulcers) OR (dipstick test) OR (dipstick urinalysis) OR pyuria OR (leukocyte esterase) OR nitrite OR hematuria OR (recurrent UTI) OR (history of UTI) OR (sexual complaints) OR (sexual activity) OR (diabetes mellitus) OR urolithiasis OR vulvovaginitis OR (STD) OR (sexually transmitted diseases) OR (urinary catheterization).

Search 4

Parameters defining the setting of the study:

#4

(primary care) OR (family practice) OR (general practice) OR (family medicine) OR (primary medicine) OR (primary health care).

Search 5

Finally, the global scheme of the search therefore was including each of 4 searches mentioned above:

#1 AND #2 AND #3 AND #4