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Searching the Health Sciences Databases

Steps

Step 1: Define Your Research Question

  • Start by clearly defining your research question. Ensure it is specific, concise, and focused on a particular aspect of nursing or allied health.
  • Use the PICO framework for help

Step 2: Identify Key Concepts

  • Break down your research question into key concepts. These are the main elements or variables that you want to explore in your search.
  • Example Research Question: "What is the impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing stress in nursing students?"
  • Key Concepts: 
    • Mindfulness meditation
    • Stress
    • Nursing students

Step 3: Develop Synonyms and Related Terms

Identify synonyms and related terms for each key concept. This will help broaden your search and capture relevant literature.

Example:
- Mindfulness meditation: Mindfulness, meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Stress: Psychological stress, emotional stress, stress reduction
- Nursing students: Student nurses, nursing education, undergraduate nursing students

If the database has one use the subject headings database. Google can also be a good source for synonyms. 

Step 4: Use Boolean Operators

Combine your key concepts and synonyms using Boolean operators (AND, OR) to create meaningful search strings.

Example Search String: 

("Mindfulness meditation" OR Mindfulness OR "Meditation" OR "Mindfulness-based stress reduction") 
AND ("Stress" OR "Psychological stress" OR "Emotional stress" OR "Stress reduction") 
AND ("Nursing students" OR "Student nurses" OR "Nursing education" OR "Undergraduate nursing students")

Step 5: Refine and Test Your Search String

Review your search string and refine it if needed. Test your search string in CINAHL to see if it retrieves relevant articles. If the search results are too broad or too narrow, adjust the search string accordingly.

You may need to repeat step 3 multiple times to find the right set of keywords. 

Step 6: Add Filters

Once your search string starts to return search results add filter such as 

  • Age (if appropriate for your topic)
  • Gender (if appropriate for your topic)
  • Publication date (usually within 5 or 6 years)
  • Peer Review

Step 7: Save and Document

Save your search string for future reference. Document the search terms, Boolean operators, and any specific database filters or limits you applied.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive search string for that helps you find relevant literature related to your research question.