⚡ Key Takeaways
- Use PubMed RSS feeds combined with a feed reader (like Feedly) to track new papers
- Set up custom searches for specific authors, topics, or journals
- New papers matching your criteria appear automatically — like a social media feed for science
- Takes just a few minutes per day to stay current
- Works for residents, fellows, and busy private practitioners alike
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The Problem
There's too much research being published to keep up with. Even in ophthalmology, hundreds of papers come out every week. Reading all the journals is impossible, especially if you're a busy clinician or resident. But falling behind means missing important advances that could change your practice.
The Becker Method
This technique was learned from Professor Matthias Becker, a retina surgeon at the Triemli Hospital in Zurich. It combines two tools:
- PubMed — the world's largest biomedical literature database
- An RSS feed reader — like Feedly (iOS, Android, web) or any alternative
How to Set It Up
Step 1: Create a PubMed Search
Go to PubMed and create a specific search. For example, to follow Professor Becker's publications on robot-assisted surgery:
- Go to PubMed Advanced Search
- Add Author: "Becker MD"
- Add Title: "robot assisted surgery"
- Connect with AND
Keep your searches specific so your feed isn't overwhelmed with hundreds of irrelevant papers.
Step 2: Create the RSS Feed
After running your search, click "Create RSS". Give it a readable name (the default name is ugly). Choose how many publications to display, then click Create RSS. Copy the RSS link.
Step 3: Add to Your Feed Reader
Open Feedly (or your preferred reader), click "Add New", paste the RSS link, and organize it into a category (e.g., "Ophthalmology", "Glaucoma", "Retina").
Repeat for different searches: specific authors, specific topics, specific journals. Build your personalized research feed.
Daily Use
Once set up, open your feed reader on your phone during your commute, lunch break, or whenever you'd normally scroll social media. New papers matching your criteria appear automatically. Scan the titles, read what interests you, skip the rest. It takes 5-10 minutes per day to stay remarkably current.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feedly free?
Yes, the basic version is free and sufficient for this purpose. There are also many other free RSS readers available for all platforms.
Can I follow entire journals this way?
Absolutely. Most major journals have RSS feeds. You can add them directly to your reader. But for most people, topic-specific searches are more useful than following every paper in a journal.
How specific should my searches be?
As specific as possible. A search for "glaucoma" alone will give you hundreds of papers per week. Narrow it down: "MIGS AND glaucoma AND outcomes" or follow specific authors whose work you value.
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