On Doctoring MEDLINE searches, with reference librarian comments

The question was

"Are patient educational pamphlets effective?"

1 :  Knowledge, attitudes, practice/ or Pamphlets/         {9603}
2 :  limit 1 to (local holdings and human and english language         {5579}
and yr=1990-1999)
3 :  Knowledge, attitudes, practice/ and Pamphlets/         {32}
4 :  limit 3 to (local holdings and human and english language         {25}
and yr=1990-1999)
5 :  from 4 keep 2-3,5,7-8,12-18,21,23-25          {16}

Reference Librarian comments

I can't tell what exactly you put in the search box that lead you to
the MeSH term "Knowledge, attitudes, and practice," but I think I'd
start with "patient education" as the first concept to search. This
question is actually a little difficult. But I think you didn't
really find good material on this. You need to "explode" and "focus"
subject headings, and learn to combine sets, etc. Be sure to ask for
help when necessary.

I played with this topic on MEDLINE. My strategy would need some
more development, but this is how I might start. I'm unsure whether
the idea of "pamphlets," per se is really adequately stated here
below. As I said, this one is a bit tricky and would take more work.
Also, an educational database (e.g., ERIC) would be a good one to try
for this sort of subject.

1 : 
exp *Patient education/mt,ec,og,sn,st,td [Methods, Economics, Organization &
Administration, Statistics & Numerical Data, Standards, Trends]
2358

2 : 
exp Pamphlets/
589

3 : 
1 and 2
141