Your Database Search Assignment requires you to perform a keyword search for your PICO(T) question.
Keyword searching is a flexible, natural language approach to database searching on a topic. Search results will be retrieved based on the keywords that you enter into the database search boxes. As you read through your search results, you may begin to recognize additional keywords to use in your search strategy to locate more articles.
Outlined below are a variety of database search techniques to use when conducting keyword searches.
| Technique | Function |
| Boolean Operators |
Boolean operators provide a logical way to combine search terms using AND or OR AND will narrow your search by combining two or more terms together. AND is helpful when searching for information on different concepts that you want to link together.
OR will broaden your search by retrieving results on any of the terms you enter. OR is helpful when searching for information on similar concepts or synonyms.
|
| Truncation/Stemming |
Use of an asterisk * after the root of a word will search for various word endings nurs* will find results with the keywords nurse, nurses, or nursing anesth* will find results with the keywords anesthesiology, anesthetist, anesthesiologist |
| Phrase Searching |
Use of quotes around words will retrieve results with that exact phrase. For example: "post-traumatic stress disorder" "mindfulness-based stress reduction" "animal-assisted therapy" |
| Nesting |
Use of parentheses will group desired search terms together in combination with appropriate Boolean operators in a single search box (dementia OR "Alzheimer* disease") AND ("fall prevention" OR "fall risk assessment") This search will find results on dementia AND either fall prevention OR fall risk assessment It will also find results on Alzheimer disease (or Alzheimer's disease) AND either fall prevention OR fall risk assessment |
You will be required to perform individual keyword searches representing the major P, I, and O elements of your PICO(T) question.
Review the information and screenshots below for guidance on how to conduct individual searches for the P, I, and O.
Plan your keyword search terms and search strategy for the P - Patient/Population/Problem:
|
Patient/Population/Problem |
List of Keyword Search Terms | Keyword Search Strategy | |
|
In (P) |
adult cancer patients experiencing fatigue |
Cancer Neoplasms Oncology Tumor Tumour Malignancy
Fatigue Tiredness Lethargy Exhaustion |
cancer* OR neoplasm* OR oncolog* OR tumor* OR tumour* OR malignan* AND fatigue* OR tired* OR letharg* OR exhaust* |
Enter your keyword search strategy for the P into CINAHL (under Advanced Search), then click Search:
After you conduct a search for the P part of your PICO(T) question, you will then conduct a search for the I.
Plan your keyword search terms and search strategy for the I - Intervention/Variable of Interest:
| I - Intervention/Variable of Interest | List of Keyword Search Terms | Keyword Search Strategy | |
|
what is the effect of (I) |
meditation |
Meditation Mindfulness Breathing Relaxation Yoga Guided imagery |
meditat* OR mindful* OR breath* OR relax* OR yoga OR "guided imagery" |
Enter your keyword search strategy for the I into CINAHL, then click Search:
After you conduct a search for the I part of your PICO(T) question, you will then conduct a search for the O.
Plan your keyword search terms and search strategy for the O - Outcome(s):
| O - Outcome(s) | List of Keyword Search Terms | Keyword Search Strategy | |
|
on (O) |
improving quality of life |
Quality of life Quality of living Life quality Well-being Wellbeing Well being |
"quality of life" OR "quality of living" OR "life quality" OR well-being OR wellbeing OR "well being" |
Enter your keyword search strategy for the O into CINAHL, then click Search:
After you have conducted individual keyword searches for the P, I, and O, click on Search History:
After clicking on Search History, you will see all 3 searches that you conducted for your P, I, and O:
Next, you will combine all 3 searches together using the Search with AND function in the Search History.
See Combining Searches for details and instructions.