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HS 3331: Health Systems: Search Strategies

This guide lists University Library resources and services for students in HS 3331.

ACCESSING DATABASES VIDEO

WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO TO LEARN HOW TO ACCESS DATABASES.

Finding Additional Keywords: Changing Search Terms

WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO TO LEARN HOW TO FIND ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS IN A DATABASE.

Overview

Finding Articles involves the following steps:

  1. Accessing the Databases
  2. Selecting a Database
  3. Developing a Search Strategy
  4. Filtering Search Results 
  5. Saving and Citing 
  6. Recording your Search Strategy

Details for each step are provided below.

Accessing Databases

Accessing the Databases

  1. Starting from the library homepage https://www.library.txst.edu/rrc.html, click Databases.
  2. On the Databases page you can access a database by entering the Database Title/ Keyword.
  3. You can also access a list of databases for a particular subject by clicking in the Subjects field and selecting the subject from the drop down menu
  4.  Click Search. 

Screenshot of Databases page with the Database Title/ Keyword search highlighted and the Subject database drop down list. Respiratory Care is selected.

Selecting a Database

Selecting a Database

  1. As you go through the list of databases, note the following about each database:
    1. Types of research (e.g., articles, systematic reviews, clinical trials, videos)
    2. Content (e.g., health journals, clinical trials, clinical practice guidelines)
    3. Dates of coverage (e.g., 1949-Present) 
  2. To select the database, click the title of the database, on the following page click Access Database.
  3. If you are accessing the database off-campus, you will be prompted to enter your NetID and password.

Developing a Search Strategy

Developing a Search Strategy

Once you have selected a database(s) you will need to come up with a search strategy to search for articles in the database.  The following steps will help you create a search strategy.

  1. Identify keywords
  2. Add commands to the search string
  3. Find additional keywords

Identify Keywords

  1. Keywords are the main concepts from your topic/research question.
  2. Eliminate unimportant words (e.g. for, in, of, on)
  3. Tip:  don't use U.S. or America as keywords unless the results include a lot of articles on other countries. Doing so could exclude articles concerning the U.S. that don't specifically mention the terms U.S. or America.
Example Topics Keywords
Disparities in Black Maternal Mortality in America Disparity, Black, Maternal, Mortality, America
Effect of lifestyle factors on US Health lifestyle, factors, US, health

Add Search Commands to the Search String

Most databases recognize the following commands:

Search Commands Result
Boolean Command AND Black AND Maternal AND Mortality brings back articles that mention all three concepts.
Boolean Command OR Black OR African American brings back articles that mention either concept.
Boolean Command NOT NOT abortion will exclude articles that mention the concept.
Phrase Searching "maternal mortality" returns articles containing the exact phrase in the order it is typed.
Truncation Medicat* returns articles containing words with the root medicat such as medicate, medicating, medication

Put it all together

The search string below will bring back articles that mention the following terms:

disparity or disparities AND Black AND maternal mortality

disparity or disparities AND African American AND maternal mortality

 

Advanced Search Sting in the database MEDLINE Complete with disparit* AND black or african american AND "maternal mortality"

Finding Additional Keywords

Find Additional Keywords

It is unlikely that you will find all of the articles you need with your first search string.  You will have to try different search combinations using different keywords. 

There are a few places you can search for additional keywords:

  • Database Subject Headings/Thesaurus or MeSH
  • Subject Terms/MeSH in an article record

Look for links to the database thesaurus (or subject headings or MeSH) then search for your concepts in the search box to see if the database uses another term for the concept.  Add any relevant terms to your search string with the appropriate command.

Screenshot of MeSH link in the MEDLINE Complete database.

 

You can also find additional terms in the subject terms found in an article record. 

When you find an article that is relevant to your research, click on the title of the article and look for the subject terms listed in the article record. Add the relevant terms to your search string with the appropriate commands.

Screenshot of Mesh terms listed in an article record.

 

 

Filtering Search Results

Filtering Search Results 

Once you have perfected your search string and returned viable looking results, you may need to filter the results list, especially if you have more than 20 results.  

Many databases have filter/limiter tools that allow you to filter the results.  

The example below shows the limiters for Peer-Reviewed and publication date in MEDLINE Complete:

Screenshot of the limiters under Refine Results in the database MEDLINE Complete. The limiters for Peer-Reviewed and Publication Date are highlighted.

 

Save and Cite your Sources

Save and Cite your Sources

Many databases have tools that allow you to save articles or export them to a Citation Manager, and most databases have a citation generator.  Be sure to...

  • use the Permalink tool to link to the article (don't use the url because it won't work)
  • use the Cite tool to get a citation for any article you use
  • export articles to a citation manager (if you use one)
  • check your citation to make sure it is correct

The tools below are from the database MEDLINE Complete, but most databases have tools so be sure to look for them!

Screenshot of Tools in MEDLINE Complete