There are many different ways to search for information in databases.
Here is one way to get you started with searching:
If a database has a thesaurus (CINAHL has CINAHL Headings), you can browse it for subject headings, see the scope note or definition of a subject heading, and see related terms that you might use.
Search Tips:
Need help with searching? Ask a librarian for help.
If you come across a citation to an article and you'd like to track down its full text, here are a couple of options:
When searching for the full text of an article, start by searching the "title of an article" (enclosed in "quotation marks") in SYR.
"qualitative study of determinants of ptsd treatment initiation"
If you're unable to locate the fulltext by searching the article title in SYR, next try searching the "journal title" in the Periodical List, which is a searchable list of print/online journals accessible through the University Libraries.
SEARCH TECHNIQUE | RESULTS |
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Phrase Searching: Quotations are placed around a phrase. | Phrase Searching Example: "inhaled corticosteroid" returns articles containing the exact phrase in the order it is typed. |
Add concepts to your search string using the Boolean operator AND. | Boolean Operator AND Example: "pediatric patient" AND asthma returns articles discussing both concepts. |
Add alternate concepts to your search string using the Boolean operator OR. | Boolean Operator OR Example: "physical activity" OR "physical exercise" returns articles that only mention physical activity or articles that only mention physical exercise. |
Truncation: An asterisk truncates the term and commands the database to search for the term with any possible ending. | Truncation Example: medicat* returns articles containing medication, medicate, medicating |
Wildcard: A letter is replaced with a question mark (?) within a word. |
Wildcard Example: wom?n returns articles containing woman, women |