PIPELINE scientific training program

introducing the

LITERATURE SEARCH

research medical library 

April Aultman BeckerEducation Coordinator

avaultman@mdanderson.org

Today we will…

we can help at every step of the way

1Turn a question into a focused

search

2Find the best

places to search 3Identify the highest level of

evidence

Turn a question into a focused literature search

identify, consider, and focus

1

Creating the Searchable Question

Does the intervention/procedure/therapy improve the outcome for the patient? Or does the comparison ?

Does acupuncture decrease the frequency of hot flashes among prostate cancer patients receiving androgen depravation therapy (ADT)?

Searchable Question

I

C

P

O

2 Identify the highest levels of evidence

expose, understand, and search

We try to find evidence that was researched using these high-level study designs.

Sometimes, the only evidence we can find is from mid-level evidence.

Low-level evidence should only be used for background information.

Cochrane Library, Dynamed

PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, PychInfo, most databases

Up to Date, textbooks, popular articles

3 Find the best places to search for literature

research, evaluate, and compile

»Cochrane Library»PubMed»SCOPUS»and more

Search for Published Research

• Be aware of British spellings

• Limiters restrict by product, date, etc.

• Notice the Other Resources

• Look at abstract to determine study design

• Notice the keywords, MESH at bottom of article

• Find It button – we’ve got full text or we’ll find it for you for free through ILLIAD

• Login to save a search

• Combine keywords using AND

• Articles listed in order by date

• Limit by document type or date

• Articles are listed by dates

• Look at abstract to determine study design

• Notice the keywords

• Login to SCOPUS to save a search, or Add to My List

• Search keywords that match your question and be specific. Look at “Details” to understand search.

• Use Filters to narrow by study design, publication, species, etc.

• Change Display Settings from summary to abstract.

• Revise keyword search after looking at MeSH terms.

• Login to save searches.

• Look at related articles

Citing the Information

Online Citation Builders:

www.sourceaid.com

www.easybib.com

www.citefast.com

www.citationmachine.net

? Contact usAsk a librarian a question

Email RML-Help@mdanderson.orgPhone 713-792-2282

Live chat with a librarian on our websitewww.mdanderson.org/library

In person: Floor 21 Pickens Tower