Week 4 Capstone Literature Strategies Tips
Search Strategies
Keyword searching uses words generated from each component of the PICOT question
All appropriate keywords, including common terms, synonyms, acronyms, phrases and brand
names, need to be used
Major strengths: Provides a quick snapshot of how helpful a database will be in finding relevant
evidence
Major weaknesses: May miss studies that do not exactly match the authors’ keyword choices;
may find many studies irrelevant to the PICOT question
Subject headings’ searching uses a standardized set of preselected terms for the search
Major strengths: Searches can be broadened without considering every synonym for the chosen
keyword; studies selected only if at least 25% relevant to the topic, thus decreasing the number
of irrelevant hits
Major weaknesses: Newly developed technologies, phrases, and acronyms may not yet be linked
in the database and thus be missed
Title searching uses keywords generated from the “P,” “I,” and “O” components of the PICOT
question to search article titles with the same keywords
As with the use of keyword searches, all appropriate common terms, synonyms, acronyms,
phrases and brand names need to be used
Major strengths: Increases the chance of the article found being relevant to the PICOT question
and is highly effective in finding relevant articles
Major weaknesses: Misses studies that do not contain the keywords in the title
Combining Searches
•
Placing several concepts from the PICOT question in one search allows a simultaneous
search, but it cannot be determined which concept has the most available evidence
•
Running multiple single-word searches allows the number of “hits” to be seen for each.
Then decisions can be made to possibly use Boolean operators.
•
Using the Boolean operator “AND” is useful when narrowing a search to combine two
search results. BOTH terms need to be present or an article will not be included in the
results.
Using “OR” will expand a search to include either one or both terms in the results
Filtered vs Unfiltered Sources
Filtered Resources
When searching for evidence-based information, it is wise to begin by searching for the highest
level of evidence possible, which is considered to be systematic reviews or meta-analyses.
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and critically-appraised topics/articles have all gone through
an evaluation process: they have been "filtered". With filtered resources, the literature on a topic
has already been searched to provide the best answer to a clinical question or practice issue.
In other words, experts have 1) located all the available evidence they could find on a topic from
individual studies and reports; 2) analyzed the validity and reliability of the studies to determine
whether each study should be included; and 3) summarized the findings from the available
research to present the data, conclusions and recommendations for clinical questions and nursing
practice based on the best available evidence.
Unfiltered Resources
Information that has not been critically appraised is considered "unfiltered". If you don’t find an
appropriate answer in the filtered resources, you’ll need to search unfiltered resources (the
primary literature) to locate studies that answer your question. Additionally, you may choose to
search the unfiltered resources to see if any new research has been done since the conclusions
reached in the filtered resources were released.
Unfiltered resources are individual articles that provide the most recent information from clinical
and practice research, such as case studies, comparative studies, or clinical trials. With unfiltered
resources, it is up to the nurse to evaluate each study s/he found to determine its validity and
applicability to the patient or the practice question.
Final Tips
•
Begin with PICOT question to generate keywords
•
Use subject headings when available
•
If search results are sparse, expand it using the explode option (if not automatic)
•
Use available search engine mechanisms to focus the search so that the topic of interest is
the main point of the article
•
Establish inclusion/exclusion criteria before searching so that the studies that answer the
question are easily identifiable. Apply these criteria after search strategy is complete.
The most appropriate databases for finding filtered resources are:
•
Cochrane Database Cochrane Library
•
Dyna Med: DynaMed is a point-of-care tool for health care professionals. Includes
frequently updated, organized summaries for more than 3,200 topics. Also includes
patient handouts. Dynamed Plus
•
Database of Abstracts of Review Effects (DARE): The Database of Abstracts of
Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) contains critical assessments of systematic reviews
from a variety of medical journals. DARE is produced by the expert reviewers and
information staff of the National Health Services' Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
(NHS CRD) at the University of York, England, and covers topics such as diagnosis,
prevention, rehabilitation, screening, and treatment. PubMed Health
•
TRIP Database: Locate high quality, evidence based medical literature using this
metasearch engine. Trip
The most appropriate resources for finding unfiltered resources are:
•
CINAHL
•
MEDLINE VIA PubMed
•
MEDLINE
•
PsychInfo
•
Nursing and Allied Health Source ProQuest
Week 4 Example Capstone
Concepts are the research ideas that are used to create a framework to identify any
connections and relationships of the variables. (Melnyk, 2015) The search engines were
similar in offering keyword searches and limiting the data by a date range. The search engine
Dynamed and TRIP required a log-in to get full access which I found not to be user-friendly.
Also, the Dynamed and TRIP search sites were new to me and therefore took more time to get
comfortable to use with the limits of not having a log-in. The CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane
and SU library search engines were user-friendly and allowed enough keywords or terms to
limit the search to get at the specific topics needed for the research project. I liked the SU
library search where you can select PICO limit and get specific results for the PICOT
questions. Also, I found the results accurate to the PICOT topic with SU library versus the
TRIP database PICO options which did not give as many accurate match results with the
question. The Mesh term searches I found the most challenging because I felt like it was only
focused on the disease states, i.e. hypertension and would show no results when you add a
term such as text messaging. Overall, I was amazed at all of the different databases available
not only for research purposes but also to be able to use to stay current on evidence-based
medicine as a nurse practitioner. The ethical climate is an important concept and challenge in
the medical profession. The technological developments to improve care and treatment can
produce ethical dilemmas such as privacy issues. The researchers and clinicians play a vital
role in ensuring that patients burden and ethical considerations are balanced in data collection
and research methods to ensure that the study results are reliable and valid. (Suhonen, Stolt,
Katajisto, & Leino, 2015)
References:
Melnyk, B. M. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best
practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Suhonen, R., Stolt, M., Katajisto, J., & Leino, K. H. (2015). Review of sampling, sample and
data collection procedures in nursing research—An example of research on ethical climate as
perceived by nurses. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 29(4), 843–858.
https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12194
Picot Question: In adults with uncontrolled hypertension between the ages of 40 and 65, is an
educational program delivered by short message service (SMS) significantly more effective
than traditional education in increasing knowledge levels and medication adherence as
evidenced by improved BP control?
Research Search Tips
Search Terms & Limits
Finding Features
Tool
s
CINAHL▪ Look at the
CINAHL Heading search: In
46
I liked the
CINAHL is Major Subject
adults with uncontrolled
articles fact that you
an SU
Heading in the
hypertension between the ages of 40
can select
subscription Full Record
and 65, is an educational program
limits and
▪ Use the Limits
delivered by
adjust the
onlyresource Feature:
short message service (SMS) signific
limits to
that offerso Example:
antly more effective than traditional
narrow down
full text
Publication
education in increasing knowledge
on specific
access to
Type=Systematic levels and medication adherence as
topic of
336
Review
evidenced by improved BP control?
searches .
scholarly ▪ Try the CINAHL Limits: year 2014-2018, Full text,
2
Also, if you
journals and Heading search: Evidence cased Practice, peer
articles click an
indexes over
reviewed ,Full pdf text
article topic
3,000
that you like
journals
Keyword search: Hypertension,
you can select
from the
short message service, adults
find similar
fields of
Limits: 2014-2018, full text,
results.
nursing and
research artilces, randomized control
allied health.
study, age group45-64
Indexed
journals do
not provide
access
to full-text.
Just because
it is indexed
in does not
mean the
library has
full-text
access to the
journal. SU
can always
request
articles for
students via
Interlibrary
Loan, but
the service is
not
instantaneou
s
PubMed ▪
PubMed is a
free health
science ▪
citation &
abstracts o
index from
the National
Center for
Biotechnolo
▪
gy
Information
at the U.S.
National
Library of
Medicine.
Look at MeSH
0
Terms in Full
MESH search: hypertension
articles
Record
intervention. 2) electronic messaging for all 4
Use the Limits
3) SMS hypertension 4) In adults
searches
Feature:
with uncontrolled hypertension
Examples: Article between the ages of 40 and 65, is an
Type=Metaeducational program delivered by
Analysis; Age=All short message service (SMS)
Adult
significantly more effective than
Look for the open traditional education in increasing
access Free
knowledge levels and medication
16
articles!
adherence as evidenced by improved articles
BP control?
Limits: mesh term
Keyword search: Hypertension, text
messaging
Limits: clinical trial, review,
abstract, free full text, full text,
humans middle ages 45064
Cochrane▪ Use the Simple
Library
Search and the
Cochrane
Advance Search
Library
Features
provides ▪ Allows you to
access to the search with
Cochrane
MeSH Terms
Library of▪ Check out the
Systematic New Reviews
Reviews.
Browse reviews
Full text of by topic
reviews are
subscription
only. Index
summaries
are a public
resource.
Indexed
journals do
not provide
access to
full-text.
Just because
Keyword search: uncontrolled
hypertension and short message
service (SMS) significantly
Limits: 2014-2018, Cochrane
Reviews, key word
Keyword search: uncontrolled
hypertension and short message
service (SMS) significantly
Limits: 2014-2018, Cochrane
Reviews, all text
MESH search: Hypertension and
Short Message Service
Limits: mesh term
MESH search: Hypertension,
essential
Limits: mesh term
I could not
get results
when trying
to get specific
key words so
that was
frustrating.
However I did
like when you
started a key
word a drop
menu list
would appear.
The Pub med
site was good
and had many
limit options
just make sure
you select
free.
0
I found it
articles interssting
that I used the
same keyword
but selected
5
key word and
articles then all text
and articles
resulted.
The MESH
0
search I found
articles challenging to
find articles.
113 trial Also, I liked
articles when I used
7
the
cochrane Hypertension
reviews search that
a MESH tree
appeares that
allows for a
another limit.
I liked the
it is indexed
in does not
mean the
library
has fulltextaccess to
the journal.
SU can
always
request
articles for
students via
Interlibrary
Loan, but
the service is
not
instantaneou
s
Dynamed• Use the Simple
Keyword search: hypertension
Search and the
Advance Search
Features
•
•
Allows you to
search with
MeSH Terms
Check out the
New Reviews
Browse reviews
by topic
Also browse by: Text message
search results
because it was
easy to see
what type of
results articles
were found.
Gives
categori
es and
wants to
sign up
to
website.
I liked the
browse by
specialty. Als
o, as your
type a key
word
suggestion
appears for
0
GO TO or
articles SEARCH
FOR
category. I do
not like the
results does
not give a
number of
results. Note I
did not sign
up for a free
trial offer, so
I may be
limited in
search. I do
like the recent
updates as it
gives a few
sentences
about topic
TRIP
▪
Database▪
TRIP is a
clinical ▪
search
engine to
locate
publicly
available
clinical
evidence.
•
Limit to:
Systematic
Reviews
Guidelines-US
Library Search is
setup just like an
EBSCO
• The Library even
has a specialized
SU Library
PICOT search
Search
setup in Library
Search—must go
to Advance
search to get to
PICOT option
Other
Databases:
and drug
updates.
Keyword search: (45 to
42
I liked the
65)(educational program delivered by results options to
short message service (SMS)
select
significantly more
searches and
effective)(traditional education in
gives a PICO
increasing knowledge levels and
area that you
medication adherence )(improved BP
can use for a
control)
650
search. The
Limits: PICO format
articles results did not
Keyword: hypertension and text
really get to
message
my PICOT
question. The
evidence type
after a search
is nice for
easy look at
types of
articles. I
found search
to be accurate
for key words.
I like the site
user friendly
and the
PICOT
Keyword: Hypertesnion and text
options was
message
good and
Limit: Last 5 years, full text
129
showed many
Key word: (45 to 65 ages
articles
results and
hypertension) AND (text message
36041
even modified
OR standard of care) AND (improved articles
the part of
bp)
PICO that had
LIMIT: PICO format, 5 year, full text
no match to
show a word
change to get
results.
Week 4 Literature Search Capstone
Using the following table—search the 5 databases based on your PICOT Question—under
findings, note the number of relevant articles found—you may not find something in every
database. Under features discuss what you liked about that database. ON the discussion board
summarize your search---attach your chart for those that would like to see your search. You may
not find what you are looking for in every search—and that is OK—but you must search every
database to see what may be out there.
Exploring the Literature
Picot Question: - Does an outpatient heart failure program lead by an APN have decreased
hospital remittance (P) by increasing patients’ empowerment and gaining control over the
disease process (I) thus enhancing patient satisfaction, symptom management and overall quality
of life. (C) It is vital that individuals identify initial indications of worsening heart failure (O).
Timely follow up by registering individuals in a heart failure program can avert deteriorating
results and allow patients to manage their personal health care with the support of an APN and a
multidisciplinary team that can address a number of aspects of the disease process (T).
Research Tool
CINAHL
CINAHL is an SU
subscriptiononly resource that
offers full text
access to 336
scholarly journals
and indexes over
3,000 journals from
the fields of nursing
and allied health.
Indexed journals do
Search Tips
Search
Terms
& Limits
▪
Look at the Major Subject
Heading in the Full Record
Keyword
search:
▪
Use the Limits Feature:
Limits:
o
▪
Example: Publication
Type=Systematic
Review
Try the CINAHL Heading
search:
CINAHL
Heading
search:
Limits:
Findings Features
not provide access
to full-text. Just
because it is indexed
in does not mean the
library has full-text
access to the
journal. SU can
always request
articles for students
via Interlibrary
Loan, but the
service is not
instantaneous
PubMed
PubMed is a free
health science
citation & abstracts
index from the
National Center for
Biotechnology
Information at the
U.S. National
Library of
Medicine.
Cochrane Library
Cochrane Library
provides access to
the Cochrane
Library of
Systematic
Reviews. Full text
of reviews is
subscription only.
Index summaries
are a public
resource. Indexed
▪
Look at MeSH Terms in Full Keyword
Record
search:
▪
Use the Limits Feature:
o
Examples: Article
Type=Meta-Analysis;
Age=All Adult
Limits:
MESH
search:
▪
Look for the open access free
Limits:
articles!
▪
Use the Simple Search and the Keyword
Advance Search Features
search:
▪
Allows you to search with
MeSH Terms
▪
Check out the New Reviews
Browse reviews by topic
Limits:
MESH
search:
Limits:
journals do not
provide access to
full-text. Just
because it is indexed
in does not mean the
library has full-text
access to the
journal. SU can
always request
articles for students
via Interlibrary
Loan, but the
service is not
instantaneous
Dynamed
•
Use the Simple Search and the Keyword
Advance Search Features
search:
•
Allows you to search with
MeSH Terms
•
Check out the New Reviews
Also
browse by:
Browse reviews by topic
TRIP Database
▪
Limit to:
TRIP is a clinical
search engine to
locate publicly
available clinical
evidence.
▪
Systematic Reviews
▪
Guidelines-US
•
Library Search is setup just
like an EBSCO
•
The Library even has a
specialized PICOT search
setup in Library Search—
SU Library Search
Keyword
search:
Limits:
must go to Advance search to
get to PICOT option
Other Databases:
Purchase answer to see full
attachment