Nursing

1. Keyword Searching:

• This is a good place to start. Databases search for your search terms in specific search fields of the reference record (e.g. title, abstract, author supplied keywords, journal title, etc.)

• Determine alternative terms, names, or synonyms for these concepts, as needed

2. Subject Searching (aka descriptors in some databases)

• offers a more focused search
• searches for search terms in the subject field only
• uses the standardized subject terms of the database you are using
  • Check CINAHL Headings, MeSH (for PubMed) or the thesaurus in the database you are using to locate correct terminology

OR

• Use OR to indicate either of the terms should be included in the results. Use OR between synonyms or related terms

• e.g. a search for sweat OR perspire would result in
  • articles that mention the word sweat but may not include the word perspire
  • any articles that include the word perspire but may not include the word sweat
  • articles that include both the word sweat and the word perspire

AND

• Use AND to indicate that all of the search terms must be present in an article
• Great way to get more focused results
  • e.g. searching for handwashing AND infection means that articles must contain the word handwashing and the word infection to show up in the results
    • For example, if the circle on the left represents articles containing the word handwashing, and the circle on the right includes articles containing the word infection, the red area shows the results for a search for handwashing AND infection

 NOT

• Use NOT to exclude articles with a different meaning or an unwanted concept
• For example, if you want articles on burnout in the health professions and the results include too many articles on burnout during Covid, you can choose to exclude Covid from the results.
  • e.g. Burnout NOT Covid

Nesting:

• Multiple Boolean operators can be used in a search. By using parentheses, you can “nest” terms together to build a search strategy.  
• Parentheses dictates the order in which the database processes the search terms (just like an algebraic equation).  Information within parentheses is processed first, then information outside parentheses is processed.  
• Every opening parenthesis must have a closing parenthesis
  • e.g. (exercise OR physical activity OR yoga) AND migraine
  • e.g. (sweat OR perspiration) AND fluid replacement
  • e.g Handwashing AND (infection AND (prevention OR control))

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