med-lit-mcp

Overview Schema Source Related Servers Discussions Admin

validate_question

Validates a drafted PICO/PCC search question against project settings and returns a question_id, letting you confirm the question and sources before starting a literature search.

Instructions

Check a drafted PICO/PCC search question against the project's settings and return a question_id for start_search. Show the result, including settings, to the researcher and wait for approval. Rules: guide("question").

Tool call template

Replace each placeholder with a value matching the input schema. Only required parameters are included; add optional parameters as needed.

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "arguments": {
      "question": "<question>"
    },
    "name": "validate_question"
  }
}

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`project`	No	Project name from list_projects; may be omitted when only one project exists
`sources`	No
`question`	Yes

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
No arguments

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed7 schema fields changedv0.3.0Oct 29, 2026

removedInput schema / $defs

Removed value: -{
-  "Component": {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "groups": {
-        "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
-        "items": {
-          "$ref": "#/$defs/TermGroup"
-        },
-        "maxItems": 8,
-        "minItems": 1,
-        "title": "Groups",
-        "type": "array"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "groups"
-    ],
-    "title": "Component",
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  "Components": {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "comparison": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "PICO, optional"
-      },
-      "concept": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "PCC, required"
-      },
-      "context": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "PCC, optional: setting only"
-      },
-      "intervention": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "PICO, required"
-      },
-      "outcome": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "PICO, optional"
-      },
-      "population": {
-        "$ref": "#/$defs/Component"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "population"
-    ],
-    "title": "Components",
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  "Filters": {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "from_date": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "format": "date",
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "description": "Default: three years ago",
-        "title": "From Date"
-      },
-      "languages": {
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "title": "Languages",
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "publication_types": {
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "title": "Publication Types",
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "to_date": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "format": "date",
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "title": "To Date"
-      }
-    },
-    "title": "Filters",
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  "ResearchQuestion": {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "components": {
-        "$ref": "#/$defs/Components"
-      },
-      "filters": {
-        "$ref": "#/$defs/Filters",
-        "description": "Only what the researcher asked for"
-      },
-      "framework": {
-        "enum": [
-          "PICO",
-          "PCC"
-        ],
-        "title": "Framework",
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "question": {
-        "description": "In the researcher's words",
-        "minLength": 10,
-        "title": "Question",
-        "type": "string"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "framework",
-      "question",
-      "components"
-    ],
-    "title": "ResearchQuestion",
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  "TermGroup": {
-    "additionalProperties": false,
-    "properties": {
-      "candidate_mesh": {
-        "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "maxItems": 10,
-        "title": "Candidate Mesh",
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "label": {
-        "anyOf": [
-          {
-            "type": "string"
-          },
-          {
-            "type": "null"
-          }
-        ],
-        "default": null,
-        "title": "Label"
-      },
-      "synonyms": {
-        "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
-        "items": {
-          "type": "string"
-        },
-        "maxItems": 20,
-        "title": "Synonyms",
-        "type": "array"
-      },
-      "text": {
-        "description": "The researcher's term",
-        "minLength": 1,
-        "title": "Text",
-        "type": "string"
-      }
-    },
-    "required": [
-      "text"
-    ],
-    "title": "TermGroup",
-    "type": "object"
-  }
-}

removedInput schema / properties / question / $ref
```
Removed value: -"#/$defs/ResearchQuestion"
```
addedInput schema / properties / question / additionalProperties
```
Added value: +false
```

addedInput schema / properties / question / properties

Added value: +{
+  "components": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "properties": {
+      "comparison": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "properties": {
+              "groups": {
+                "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+                "items": {
+                  "additionalProperties": false,
+                  "properties": {
+                    "candidate_mesh": {
+                      "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 10,
+                      "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "label": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ],
+                      "default": null,
+                      "title": "Label"
+                    },
+                    "synonyms": {
+                      "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 20,
+                      "title": "Synonyms",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "text": {
+                      "description": "The researcher's term",
+                      "minLength": 1,
+                      "title": "Text",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "required": [
+                    "text"
+                  ],
+                  "title": "TermGroup",
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "maxItems": 8,
+                "minItems": 1,
+                "title": "Groups",
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "groups"
+            ],
+            "title": "Component",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "PICO, optional"
+      },
+      "concept": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "properties": {
+              "groups": {
+                "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+                "items": {
+                  "additionalProperties": false,
+                  "properties": {
+                    "candidate_mesh": {
+                      "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 10,
+                      "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "label": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ],
+                      "default": null,
+                      "title": "Label"
+                    },
+                    "synonyms": {
+                      "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 20,
+                      "title": "Synonyms",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "text": {
+                      "description": "The researcher's term",
+                      "minLength": 1,
+                      "title": "Text",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "required": [
+                    "text"
+                  ],
+                  "title": "TermGroup",
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "maxItems": 8,
+                "minItems": 1,
+                "title": "Groups",
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "groups"
+            ],
+            "title": "Component",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "PCC, required"
+      },
+      "context": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "properties": {
+              "groups": {
+                "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+                "items": {
+                  "additionalProperties": false,
+                  "properties": {
+                    "candidate_mesh": {
+                      "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 10,
+                      "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "label": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ],
+                      "default": null,
+                      "title": "Label"
+                    },
+                    "synonyms": {
+                      "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 20,
+                      "title": "Synonyms",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "text": {
+                      "description": "The researcher's term",
+                      "minLength": 1,
+                      "title": "Text",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "required": [
+                    "text"
+                  ],
+                  "title": "TermGroup",
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "maxItems": 8,
+                "minItems": 1,
+                "title": "Groups",
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "groups"
+            ],
+            "title": "Component",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "PCC, optional: setting only"
+      },
+      "intervention": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "properties": {
+              "groups": {
+                "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+                "items": {
+                  "additionalProperties": false,
+                  "properties": {
+                    "candidate_mesh": {
+                      "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 10,
+                      "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "label": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ],
+                      "default": null,
+                      "title": "Label"
+                    },
+                    "synonyms": {
+                      "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 20,
+                      "title": "Synonyms",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "text": {
+                      "description": "The researcher's term",
+                      "minLength": 1,
+                      "title": "Text",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "required": [
+                    "text"
+                  ],
+                  "title": "TermGroup",
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "maxItems": 8,
+                "minItems": 1,
+                "title": "Groups",
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "groups"
+            ],
+            "title": "Component",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "PICO, required"
+      },
+      "outcome": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "properties": {
+              "groups": {
+                "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+                "items": {
+                  "additionalProperties": false,
+                  "properties": {
+                    "candidate_mesh": {
+                      "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 10,
+                      "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "label": {
+                      "anyOf": [
+                        {
+                          "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                          "type": "null"
+                        }
+                      ],
+                      "default": null,
+                      "title": "Label"
+                    },
+                    "synonyms": {
+                      "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                      "items": {
+                        "type": "string"
+                      },
+                      "maxItems": 20,
+                      "title": "Synonyms",
+                      "type": "array"
+                    },
+                    "text": {
+                      "description": "The researcher's term",
+                      "minLength": 1,
+                      "title": "Text",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  },
+                  "required": [
+                    "text"
+                  ],
+                  "title": "TermGroup",
+                  "type": "object"
+                },
+                "maxItems": 8,
+                "minItems": 1,
+                "title": "Groups",
+                "type": "array"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "groups"
+            ],
+            "title": "Component",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "PICO, optional"
+      },
+      "population": {
+        "additionalProperties": false,
+        "properties": {
+          "groups": {
+            "description": "ANDed; see guide('question')",
+            "items": {
+              "additionalProperties": false,
+              "properties": {
+                "candidate_mesh": {
+                  "description": "Suggested MeSH headings",
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "maxItems": 10,
+                  "title": "Candidate Mesh",
+                  "type": "array"
+                },
+                "label": {
+                  "anyOf": [
+                    {
+                      "type": "string"
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "type": "null"
+                    }
+                  ],
+                  "default": null,
+                  "title": "Label"
+                },
+                "synonyms": {
+                  "description": "True synonyms only (ORed)",
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "maxItems": 20,
+                  "title": "Synonyms",
+                  "type": "array"
+                },
+                "text": {
+                  "description": "The researcher's term",
+                  "minLength": 1,
+                  "title": "Text",
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "required": [
+                "text"
+              ],
+              "title": "TermGroup",
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "maxItems": 8,
+            "minItems": 1,
+            "title": "Groups",
+            "type": "array"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "groups"
+        ],
+        "title": "Component",
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "population"
+    ],
+    "title": "Components",
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "filters": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "description": "Only what the researcher asked for",
+    "properties": {
+      "from_date": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "format": "date",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "description": "Default: three years ago",
+        "title": "From Date"
+      },
+      "languages": {
+        "items": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "title": "Languages",
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "publication_types": {
+        "items": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "title": "Publication Types",
+        "type": "array"
+      },
+      "to_date": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "format": "date",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "To Date"
+      }
+    },
+    "title": "Filters",
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "framework": {
+    "enum": [
+      "PICO",
+      "PCC"
+    ],
+    "title": "Framework",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  "question": {
+    "description": "In the researcher's words",
+    "minLength": 10,
+    "title": "Question",
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+}

addedInput schema / properties / question / required

Added value: +[
+  "framework",
+  "question",
+  "components"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / question / title
```
Added value: +"ResearchQuestion"
```
addedInput schema / properties / question / type
```
Added value: +"object"
```

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.1.5Oct 1, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / project

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "description": "Project name from list_projects; may be omitted when only one project exists",
+  "title": "Project"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / sources / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "items": {
-      "enum": [
-        "pubmed",
-        "pmc",
-        "openalex",
-        "semantic-scholar",
-        "europepmc"
-      ],
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    "type": "array"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "enum": [
+        "pubmed",
+        "pmc",
+        "openalex",
+        "semantic-scholar",
+        "scopus",
+        "europepmc"
+      ],
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

First observedv0.1.1Sep 29, 2026

TDQS

A4.1/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=false, destructiveHint=false, idempotentHint=false and openWorldHint=true, so the safety profile is largely covered. The description adds real workflow behavior beyond that: the tool emits a question_id, requires researcher-visible presentation of settings, and requires waiting for approval. It leaves unstated whether the question is persisted before approval and what happens on rejection.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Three short sentences, front-loaded with the action and its output before the process instruction; nothing is padded. The trailing fragment 'Rules: guide("question").' is terse to the point of being cryptic but costs almost no space.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with an output schema and rich annotations, the description adequately covers purpose, downstream linkage, and the required human-approval step. The remaining gap is the 'sources' parameter and validation-failure behavior, which the description never touches.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is only 33% across three parameters, and the description says nothing about them directly — notably it never explains the 'sources' enum or the project-omission default, both of which live only in the schema. It does partially compensate by pointing at guide("question") for how to structure the framework/components, and the nested PICO/PCC fields carry their own descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and object (check a drafted PICO/PCC question against project settings) plus a concrete outcome (returns a question_id for start_search), which positions it clearly against the start_search sibling. An agent can tell what it does and what consumes its output without opening the schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly sequences it: run it, show the result including settings to the researcher, then wait for approval, and notes the downstream consumer start_search. It does not state when to skip this step or what to do if approval is refused, so it stops short of full when/when-not coverage.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.