““Tips on the use of Tips on the use of online information online information

resources”  resources”  

Patti ReynoldsPatti ReynoldsApril 21, 2005April 21, 2005

Set your limitsSet your limits

list the major concepts that must appear in the list the major concepts that must appear in the articles articles

decide if you want a comprehensive search or just a decide if you want a comprehensive search or just a few relevant articles few relevant articles

do you want only recent articles or in any relevant do you want only recent articles or in any relevant material? material?

are you looking for human research only? are you looking for human research only? are you focusing on a particular population (e.g., are you focusing on a particular population (e.g.,

gender, age group)? gender, age group)? will you accept articles in languages other than will you accept articles in languages other than

English? English? are you looking for a particular type of publication are you looking for a particular type of publication

(e.g., review articles, meta-analyses, clinical trials)? (e.g., review articles, meta-analyses, clinical trials)?

The SearchThe Search

Break the question down into various Break the question down into various concepts concepts

Search for one concept at a time Search for one concept at a time Add concepts one at a time using Add concepts one at a time using

boolean connectors – AND, OR, NOTboolean connectors – AND, OR, NOT Identify synonyms Identify synonyms

Generic/trade names for drugs (use both)Generic/trade names for drugs (use both) Acronyms - clinical trialsAcronyms - clinical trials

AND, OR, NOT????AND, OR, NOT????

Boolean logic refers to the logical relationship among Boolean logic refers to the logical relationship among search terms, and is named for the British-born Irish search terms, and is named for the British-born Irish mathematicianmathematicianGeorge Boole.George Boole.

AND is a limiting term – makes the search results AND is a limiting term – makes the search results smallersmaller

OR is a combining term – makes search results largerOR is a combining term – makes search results larger Not is a nullifying term – eliminates items entirely from Not is a nullifying term – eliminates items entirely from

searchsearch

AND, OR, NOT AND, OR, NOT

Cl

Cloning AND Ethics AND Cloning AND Ethics AND HumansHumans

Statin StrokeSearchresults

ANDAND

Statin articles in PubMed - 2559Statin articles in PubMed - 2559

Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673 Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673

Statin and stroke - 218Statin and stroke - 218

When to use ORWhen to use OR

ALSamyolateral sclerosis

(als OR amyolateral sclerosis ) AND treatment

Statin stroke

OROR

Statin articles in PubMed - 2559Statin articles in PubMed - 2559

Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673 Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673

Statin and stroke - 80014 (diff-Statin and stroke - 80014 (diff-218)218)

Eliminates duplicates

Statin stroke

NOTNOT

Statin articles in PubMed - 2559Statin articles in PubMed - 2559

Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673 Stroke articles in PubMed - 77673

Statin and stroke - 218Statin and stroke - 218

Statin AND Stroke NOT DVT NOT therapy - 15Statin AND Stroke NOT DVT NOT therapy - 15

DVT

therapy

PubMedPubMed

““Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD NOT nursingNOT nursing

““Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD AND treatment NOT surgeryAND treatment NOT surgery

GoogleGoogle

The The "AND""AND" operator is unnecessary -- operator is unnecessary -- we include all search terms by default we include all search terms by default

Use a + sign or put phrase in quotesUse a + sign or put phrase in quotes Star Wars + 4Star Wars + 4 ““Star Wars 4”Star Wars 4”

Use a –(minus) sign for NOTUse a –(minus) sign for NOT Minus sign Minus sign mustmust be next to word: -dog be next to word: -dog

GoogleGoogle

““deep vein thrombosis” “New England deep vein thrombosis” “New England Journal of Medicine” = 8,000Journal of Medicine” = 8,000

"deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA“ = 753of Medicine" + "JAMA“ = 753

"deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" + 2005 = 281of Medicine" + "JAMA" + 2005 = 281

"deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" + 2005 + image = of Medicine" + "JAMA" + 2005 + image = 111111

GoogleGoogle

"sea ray" + florida + 2005 + image + "sea ray" + florida + 2005 + image + specsspecs

"black lexus" + image + florida + 2005 "black lexus" + image + florida + 2005 =34=34

"black lexus" + image + florida + 2005 "black lexus" + image + florida + 2005 –blog = 30–blog = 30

Mexico –new; Hampshire –newMexico –new; Hampshire –new

Consider the sourceConsider the source

Focus on web sites that have edu, gov, Focus on web sites that have edu, gov, org in the URL.org in the URL.

Google searchesGoogle searches statin stroke govstatin stroke gov statin stroke +edu (google considers .edu statin stroke +edu (google considers .edu

a common word – must use the +)a common word – must use the +) statin stroke +orgstatin stroke +org

More tipsMore tips

Use edit/find command for everythingUse edit/find command for everything Add email when trying to find a personAdd email when trying to find a person

Example: infobutton cimino emailExample: infobutton cimino email Department of Medical Informatics cimino Department of Medical Informatics cimino

@@ Add powerpointAdd powerpoint Add imageAdd image Add pdfAdd pdf Add docAdd doc