How to Transform a Research Question into a Search Strategy:
N u r s i n g
Think about and write down your research question or problem (revision over time is fine and expected):
Screening patients for alcohol abuse in an emergency room
Now break down your research question or problem into separate and distinct main concepts
(number of concepts will vary):
CONCEPT #1: patients
CONCEPT #2: screening
CONCEPT #3: alcohol abuse
CONCEPT #4: emergency room
Next, consult the CINAHL subject headings list that is searchable through the CINAHL online database. Once you are in the CINAHL database, select “CINAHL headings.” You can then enter your concept words into the “Browse for” box. For each concept you enter, you will be directed to the correct CINAHL subject heading, its definition (“scope”), synonyms and related concepts. This process helps you to understand how your topic is referred to in the nursing literature, and will help ensure that your search is both precise and thorough.
For each concept, identify the corresponding CINAHL heading (referred to as “controlled vocabulary”):
CONCEPT #1:
patients
CONCEPT #2:
NO CINAHL HEADING
!! --> This is an indicator that you should use keywords (uncontrolled vocabulary), for
example,"screening" or "patient screening"; "assessment"; "evaluation"; "clinical
assessment tools"
CONCEPT #3:
alcohol-related disorders
alcoholism
alcoholic intoxication
CONCEPT #4:
emergency patients
emergency services
emergency care
emergency medical services
trauma centers
Next, reflect on your research question and concepts and write down any related keywords or keyphrases (“uncontrolled vocabulary”) that come to mind. Also include any terminology that you have located in the nursing literature:
CONCEPT #1:
---
CONCEPT #2:
screening
patient screening
Brief alcohol intervention (BAI)--key phrase found in review of articles
alcohol assessment--found in review of articles
CONCEPT #3:
alcohol abuse
drunkenness
intoxication
at-risk drinking/drinkers
CONCEPT #4:
emergency room
ER
Using the CINAHL Headings list, identify narrower or more specific words or phrases. These may be used to refine your search and limit search results.
CONCEPT #1:
N/A
CONCEPT #2:
assessment tools
screening tools
CONCEPT #3:
alcohol amnestic disorder
alcoholic neuropathy
CONCEPT #4:
wounds and injuries
In the same way, identify broader or more general words or phrases. These may be used to broaden your search and expand search results.
CONCEPT #1:
patient population
CONCEPT #2:
health screening
diagnosis
CONCEPT #3:
substance abuse
substance use disorders
mental disorders
CONCEPT #4:
emergency medicine
health facility departments
patient care
Using the CINAHL headings, keywords and keyphrases listed above, construct a Boolean search strategy using the connectors AND, OR, NOT. Boolean search logic will work effectively in any database. Main concepts are connected using AND, and related concepts are connected by OR. Related concepts connected by OR should be grouped together using parentheses. The NOT connector can be used carefully to weed out unwanted concepts from your search results. After evaluating your items retrieved, modify your strategy as necessary. Searching is a trial and error process!
CONCEPT #1:
patients
CONCEPT #2:
(screening OR assessment OR evaluation)
AND
CONCEPT #3:
(alcohol abuse OR alcoholism OR alcohol related disorders)
AND
CONCEPT #4:
(emergency patients OR emergency room OR emergency services OR trauma centers)
What does it look like when you put it in the database search box?
patients and (screening or assessment or evaluation) and (alcohol abuse or alcoholism or alcohol related disorders) and (emergency patients or emergency room or emergency services or emergency care or trauma centers)
