Mobile Apps & Resources: Prime: PubMed Journals & Tools

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To keep you updated on the go, our ‘app of the month’ highlights one free informational app every month!

Librarian reviewers consider the audience and purpose of the apps, as well as highlighting additional features:
 
  • In the ‘Evidence’ section, we assess how easily an app user can identify the app’s currency and support from the evidence
  • In the ‘Usability’ section, we assess the organization of information and other usability factors that may contribute to user experience

Our complete grading criteria for evidence and usability are embedded in the review.

Please note that the reviewers are not healthcare professionals, and so cannot appraise the quality of any recommendations within the app. The reviews are not endorsements.

View the AHS policy on Mobile Wireless Devices and Services.

 

Prime: PubMed Journals & Tools

Prime: PubMed Journals & Tools
 

Versions reviewed

2.7.80 Android 
2.8 iPad & iPhone

Device & OS used

Samsung, Galaxy Tablet A7 Android iPad Air iOS 12.4.2

Date of review

January 14, 2021

Reviewers Mark Mueller (SHA)                  Susanne King-Jones (AHS)
Technician Support  Brandie Bailey

Image Source: Prime, App Store. Retrieved on January 26, 2021 from: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/prime-pubmed-journals-tools/id554157746

Stated Purpose  

From the Unbound Website:

“The Prime PubMed app from Unbound Medicine is the best way to search, organize, and share information about medical literature directly on your smartphone, tablet, and the web.” (1)

From the Google Play and Apple Websites:

“The free Prime app connects you to the most up-to-date journal citations and abstracts from the complete PubMed database. In addition to the ability to perform powerful searches and link to the publisher’s full text articles, Prime also provides a number of exclusive tools not available anywhere else creating a one-of-a-kind user experience.”(2,3)

Official Webpage of the App: https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline

Exclusive tools not available anywhere else. E.g. Grapherence®: Unbound’s unique search option allows you to visually explore the influence and interrelationships among journal articles

Features

User account, labels, favorites, search history, journal list, notes, indication that a citation has been seen before

Screenshots

         

Image Source: Prime: PubMed Journals & Tools, Apple. Retrieved on January 26, 2021 from: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/prime-pubmed-journals-tools/id554157746#?platform=iphone 

Specialties/Disciplines

No specific audience targeted
All medical, health, and allied health professions

 

Notes

This app can be used by professionals, students, laypersons, patients and anyone with an interest in the life sciences and biomedical literature

Part 1: Editorial committee, content updates, and evidence grading

The app is developed by Unbound Medicine: a reputable medical/health science information product company. The content is frequently updated. There is no grading system.

Part 2: Source and authorship information for 3 entries

Prime PubMed is a functional-based app that searches and provides access to the citations and abstracts of international biomedical literature found in PubMed. This app is not a point-of-care or a reference-based app that contains inherent entries and informational sections to assess. As such, the reviewers of this app will leave Part B of this assessment blank.

Organization of information

Searching for information options included using either text-based search bar or a map of the body with clickable circled areas which lead to an organized list of article types.

Navigation

The app is easy and intuitive to navigate. There are three main functions: search, browse and a customizable “For You” option.

Extras

User Account require: Yes

Internet connection required for use: Yes, Needs internet connection

Text search field: Yes 

Browsable content: Yes 

Advertisements: No

Pop-up advertisements: No

In-app purchases: No

Devices

Compatible with iPhone, iPad iPad Air and iPod Touch. Requires iOS 11.0 or later. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prime-pubmed-journals-tools/id554157746#?platform=ipad
Last updated (as per App store listing): June 27, 2020

Compatible with Android smartphones and tablets. Requires Android OS 5.0 and up. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en-gb&id=com.unbound.android.medl

Last updated (as per Google Play listing): March 30, 2020         

Size
App Store listing: 10.5MB (iOS) (Apple)
Google Play listing: 6.3M (Android)
 
App Developer
About Unbound Medicine, Inc.
 
Country of Origin
USA
 
Contact
223 West Main Street, Suite C.
Charlottesville, VA, 22901, US

Website: www.unboundmedicine.com