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Structured searching for health students (using CINAHL and other databases)

Searching in CINAHL

Searching with Boolean Operators

Using Boolean operators

When you search for information, it’s very easy to get too many results or results that aren't very relevant. When you type in more than one search term, you can link them together with AND or OR.  These are known as Boolean operators. If you are unsure of how Boolean operators work, see the section 'What are Boolean operators?' on the Planning your search page.

The written guidance and video tutorial below show how to use Boolean operators in CINAHL.

Written Guidance

Video Tutorial  
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Searching using advanced searching techniques

Using advanced searching techniques

There are a number of techniques you can use to improve the thoroughness of your searches. Two of the main advanced searching techniques used in CINAHL are truncation and phase searching. The written guidance and video tutorial below show how to use advanced searching techniques in CINAHL.

Written Guidance

Video Tutorial  

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Refining your search

Refining your search

Once you have completed your search in CINAHL you may need to refine your search further in order to get the best results. To do this you can:

  • Use the limits in CINAHL.
  • Check and refine the keywords and Boolean operators you have used in your search strategy.

The written guidance and video tutorial below show how to do this in CINAHL.

Written Guidance

Video Tutorial  

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Viewing your search results

Viewing your search results

Once you have found some useful items in CINAHL, the next step is opening them to read the full text. The written guidance and video tutorial below show how to do this. 

Written Guidance

Video Tutorial  

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Using subject headings

Using subject headings

CINAHL subject terms, also known as subject headings, are a list of words or phrases that use controlled vocabulary to describe specific concepts. The written guidance and video below explain how to use these subject headings in CINAHL. 

Written Guidance

Video Tutorial  

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Reviewing your search strategy

Reviewing your search strategy

Before finalising your structured search, make sure to review your search strategy following the checklist and top tips available in this Adobe Express guide. You can also download the checklist below.

 

Visual guide (Adobe Express)

Adobe guide to review your search strategy

Searching for quality information: using Discovery and the online databases

Finding Quality Information Part 1_Searching Discovery

Part 1 of this video series looks at how to search for quality information using Discovery.

It covers the basics of searching and using Discovery to create a basic and advanced search.

Please note: although the examples used in this video are based on Public Health topics, the advice given and the searching technique can be applied to any health discipline. 

Video Presentation - Part 1:

Click on the link to watch a video on searching and using the Discovery search engine

The slides which are used during this video presentation are below.

Finding Quality Information Part 2_Searching the Online Databases

Part 2 of this video series looks at searching for quality information in the subject databases.

It covers advanced and structured searching in the online health databases.

If you haven’t already done so, you might also find it useful to watch part 1 which looks at the basics of searching and using Discovery.

Please note: although the examples used in this video are based on Public Health topics, the advice given and the searching technique can be applied to any health discipline.

Video Presentation - Part 2:

Click on the link to watch a video on searching and using the online subject databases

The slides which are used during this video presentation are below.

Using material on this page