Searching Healthcare Databases Advanced search

Step 8: View abstracts and select articles
View the articles by clicking on the number of results. To see abstracts
and other information select the Display abstracts box. You can sort
articles by Publication Date or Author. You can select how many articles
are listed on each page.
Step 9: View articles online
If, at the bottom of an abstract, you see Available in fulltext you will be
able to read the article in full online. You can also save or print these
versions. You may need to use your Athens password again. If the link
does not take you straight to the article, look for an Athens log-in prompt.
If you see Available in print the article is either available from your local
hospital library or available via a journal article request. Click the link to
request a copy
Step 10: Save, print or email the articles
Check the box next to each article that you are interested in. Once you
have gone through all of your results click Copy to clipboard at the
bottom of the page. Click View clipboard to see your selected articles.
You can email or export these results. To print or save offline select PDF
or MS Word and Save results. To email click Email results.
Library and Knowledge Services
Searching
Healthcare Databases
Advanced search
Quick guide
Step 1: Think about your question!
Breakdown your question into its constituent parts for example: What
patient group, intervention, comparison, or outcome are you interested in?
For each of these make a list of synonyms, US variations in terminology or
spelling, plurals and any other variations you can think of .
Step 2: Choose a database
Log onto the following web address www.evidence.nhs.uk
Select Journals & Databases on the right hand side of the page
Then select Healthcare Databases Advanced Search from the list
You will need to log in with a current NHS Athens username and
password
Choose the most relevant database from the list provided.
If you want to save your search so that you can come back to it another
time click Save all and give your search a name.
FINALLY critically appraise your articles.
If you want to know more or refresh your memory, please a member of
library staff for more details or to book a training session contact:
01522 573952
O:\Q. Training\Search2Training\QuikGuideSearch2
informatics.library@ulh.nhs.uk
www.hello.nhs.uk/training.asp

Step 3: Enter your search terms
Type in the your first term, Title and abstract is the default setting, select
different criteria if required. Press Search. This will return documents with
the exact words in the title and abstract.
Tips
If you want to search for a distinct phrase put it in quotation marks
e.g. “healthcare worker”. This will instruct the database to find only
those words next to each other in that order.
Step 5: Combine search term results
Repeat Steps 2 to 4 with the other subjects in your search and combine the
results using the OR button.
Step 6: Combine different topic searches
Using the AND button to link your different topic searches.
By adding a * at the end of the word ensures the database also finds
plurals and variations in word ending. E.g. diabet* will return
‘diabetes’ and ‘diabetic’
Use OR to combine synonyms, alternative spellings or related terms.
E.g. estrogen OR oestrogen
Step 7: Limit your search
Use the Apply Limits section to narrow your search.
Step 4: Use the database indexing
Enter one search term again (just one, with no quotation marks or *), tick
Map to Thesaurus & Search. Select an appropriate heading from the list
and click on the Explode box adjacent to it. This selects more specific
related subject headings. Click Search.
Limits allow you to refine your search by date, gender, age groups and
language among others.
O:\Q. Training\Search2Training\QuikGuideSearch2
Tip: To search for an author, select author in the drop down box and use
the format “Smith R” or “Smith R*” or “Smith*”