2. | www.ebsco.com
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EBSCO Customer Training Services
Richard Crookes, MA, MCLIP
Manager, Training Services
– UK, Nordics & Africa
12+ years with EBSCO
25+ years Chartered Librarian
(Revalidated 31/8/2022)
3. | www.ebsco.com
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Objectives
Identify & select EBSCOhost research databases
Prepare your search strategy for systematic reviews on EBSCOhost
databases using the PICO framework
Manage search results using personal folder & Export Manager
Locate and use methodological search filters
Further support for EBSCOhost databases
4. | www.ebsco.com
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EBSCO Databases https://tinyurl.com/y2g5eare
Click on
database title
link to get the
description
Access by
entering
“EBSCO”
6. | www.ebsco.com |
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Advanced Searching in
EBSCOhost databases
Understanding the goal of a systematic review
Preparing the Search
Using the PICO Framework
7. Setting the scene: the goal…
In supporting systematic reviews users are attempting to identify all studies
that could meet the eligibility criteria...
8. 1. Understand the research question
2. Turn the question into a search strategy using both free-text
& thesaurus search terms
3. Use truncation / wildcards & Proximity Searching
4. Manage results with reference management Software
Key Points in Supporting a Systematic Review
9. The PICO process is a technique used in evidence-based practice to frame and
answer a clinical or healthcare related question.
The PICO framework is also used to develop literature search strategies.
The PICO acronym stands for:
P – patient, problem or population
I – intervention
C – comparison
O – outcome
10. #2 Choose your Framework…
Question Formulation Framework Elements
CoCoPop Condition, Context, Population
ECLIPSe Expectations, (improvement, innovation, or information),
Client group (recipients of service), Location (where service is
housed) Impact (change in service and how measured),
Professionals Involved, Service
PECO Patient/Population, Exposure, Comparisons, Outcomes
PICOC Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes, Context
PICOT Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes, Time
SPICE Setting, Perspective, Phenomenon of Interest, Comparison,
Evaluation
SPIDER Setting Phenomenon of Interest Designs Evaluation Research
type
(For further information see the 38 variants: Booth, A. et al, 2019:
https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/4/Suppl_1/e001107/DC1/embed/inline-supplementary-material-1.pdf
11. #1 Understand the Research Question
Q. In newborn babies, does a waterbirth (compared with being born ‘on
dry land’), increase the risk of morbidity or mortality?
12. Primary focus is Population / Intervention
Use the PICO process to frame & answer a question
Population Intervention Comparison Outcome
Newborn babies Waterbirth ‘Land birth’ Neonatal morbidity or mortality
Newborn baby
Newborn babies
Neonates
Waterbirth,
Water birth,
Birthing pool
Under water birth
Birth on land
Birth on dry land
Land birth
Landbirth
Neonatal morbidity
Neonatal mortality
Infant morbidity
Infant mortality
INFANT, NEWBORN WATERBIRTH
ALTERNATIVE BIRTH
METHODS
CHILDBIRTH
HOME CHILDBIRTH
INFANT MORTALITY
PERINATAL DEATH
13. #2 Turn the Question in a Search Strategy – Free-Text &
Thesaurus
Searching Free-Text via Title (TI) & Abstract (AB) on EBSCOhost:
Using Advanced Search Guided Styles
Using Command Line Query
TI (heart attack or myocardial infarction) OR AB (heart attack or myocardial
infarction)
14. #2 Using Subject (Thesaurus) Headings
Map keyword (free
text) search to
CINAHL Subject
Heading
Combined
CINAHL
Heading
with
keyword
search
16. #3 Using Truncation & Wildcards on EBSCOhost
Syntax Example
Truncation neonat*, ventilator * pneumonia
Phrase
Searching
“neonatal mortality”
Wildcard organi?ation, wom?n
Alternate
spelling
p#ediatrics, colo#r
17. # 3 Using Proximity Searching
Finds the words if they are within x words (or less) of
one another regardless of the order in which they
appear, e.g., land n3 birth
Finds the words if they are within x words (or less) of
one another and in the order in which you entered
them, e.g., childhood w8 obesity
Multiple terms can be used on either side of the
operator, e.g. (neonatal OR infant) w2 morbidity
Near
Within
With
multiple
Terms
21. Search Strategy for EBSCOhost
SU “Smoking Cessation+” OR (TI (Cessation, Smoking OR ((smok*) n3 (cessation))) OR AB
(Cessation, Smoking OR ((smok*) n3 (cessation)))))
(Effectiveness OR ((cost*) n3 (effective*))) OR AB (Cost Effectiveness OR ((cost*) n3 (SU “cost benefit
analys?s+” OR (TI (Cost effective*)))))
Improving efficiency and confidence in systematic literature searching 11th -12th June 2015)
https://clinicallibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/improving-efficiency-confidence-in-systematic-
literature-searching-wb-gdej.pdf
Wichor M. Bramer - Gerdien B. de Jonge, Erasmus MC - Rotterdam the Netherlands
22. #3 Using the EBSCOhost
syntax
Available from EBSCO
Connect at
https://tinyurl.com/yybnhqyp
24. #4 Managing Search results
1. Saving, printing or emailing results.
2. Using the Export Manager functionality in EBSCOhost.
3. Saving references and searches using the MyEBSCO Folders.
4. Creating and sharing custom folders.
5. Creating search alerts in EBSCOhost databases.
26. Items (results) are stored for the duration of the session by users are
required to Sign-In to MyEBSCO to create a personal, folder to store
results, search etc. beyond the session
27. From the Folder Select Articles to Print / E-mail /
Save or Export
28. Use the Print Manager to save Current Search History and results in an
appropriate Citation Format, e.g. Harvard, as a PDF, or to send to the printer.
29. Use E-Mail Manager to send
Current Search History, results in
a preferred Citation Format, e.g.
Harvard, or a Customised Field
Format
30. Use Save Manager to save Current Search
History and search results as a PDF or text
file* in a preferred Citation Format, e.g.
Harvard, or a Customised Field Format
* Internet Explorer only
31. #4 Using Export Manager (Bibliographic Management Software)
Many available
No “right” choice
Managing large numbers of records
Importing references
Remove duplicate references
Annotating custom fields
32. Use Export Manager to save citations in your
preferred format e.g. RIS, for your
bibliographic management software e.g.
EndNote, RefWorks, Zotero, or download as
a .csv file.
33. Click Share to export results
directly from the list (supports
up to 25,000 results)
34. Enter details and choose the
appropriate format etc. A link to
exported results is sent and is
valid for up to 7 days.
35. Using MyEBSCO Folders to Store & Retrieve Items
Without an Account
Articles saved for the duration of the
session
Save/Print/email from the default
folders during the session
Export results
Items saved are lost when closing
the session
With a MyEBSCO Account
Articles saved beyond the session
Save searches & alerts
Create custom folders
Share folders
Items stored indefinitely unless there
is no activity 18 months since the
account was setup
40. Create Search Alert by adding details,
setting parameters i.e., Frequency,
duration, format etc.
Alerts are stored in the My EBSCOhost
Folder
41. EBSCOhost Support Materials – Exporting Results
How to Use the Export Manager
Exporting up to 25,000 Results
Exporting EBSCO Citations to EndNote – FAQs
Using RefWorks with EBSCOhost - Frequently Asked Questions
42. EBSCOhost Support Materials – Using MyEBSCOhost Folders
How to Create and Manage a MyEBSCO Account
My EBSCO Folder - Tutorial
How to Use the My EBSCO Folder
EBSCOhost Folder - Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use Custom Folders
Sharing Custom Folders
43. EBSCOhost Support Materials – Saving Searches & Results
Using the EBSCOhost Result List - Tutorial
Using the EBSCOhost Search History - Tutorial
Saving Your Search History using My EBSCOhost
How to Use Search Alerts
Creating a Search Alert in EBSCOhost – Tutorial
45. Evidence-Based (Methodological) Filters I
Search strategies that identify a topic or aspect, or study type e.g.
systematic reviews, cost-effectiveness etc.
Tried & test strategies designed for repeated use
Often combined with specific subject terms e.g. breast cancer
AND tamoxifen (limited to Randomized Controlled Trial)
46. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) – CINAHL Complete
Evidence-Based Practice is a value that can be found in the Special Interest field of
some CINAHL record and is associated with a record when an article is about the
application of Evidence-Based medicine.
Applying this limiter allows you to limit results to:
Articles from evidence-based practice journals
Articles about evidence-based practice
Research articles (including systematic reviews, clinical trials, meta-analyses, etc.)
Commentaries on research studies (applying practice to research)
47. Clinical Queries
Clinical Queries - specific search strategies (“hedges”) which can be
applied to retrieve clinically-relevant and scientifically-sound results from
the CINAHL® databases.
Created in collaboration with the Health Information Research Unit
(HIRU) at McMaster University and are designed for clinician use.
For additional information about ongoing research, please visit:
http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/hiru/HIRU_Hedges_home.aspx .
48. Clinical Queries – CINAHL Complete
CINAHL searches can be refined using specific search strategies
designed to produce results in 5 research areas:
https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/CINAHL-Clinical-Queries?language=en_US
Therapy
Prognosis
Review
Qualitative
Causation (Aetiology)
49. Research Strategies
As research may require different emphasis, three strategies are
provided for each area:
High Sensitivity – the broadest search to include ALL relevant material. It may
include less relevant materials.
High Specificity – the most targeted search to include only the most relevant
result set, may miss some relevant materials.
Best Balance – retrieves the best balance between Sensitivity and Specificity.
51. Take Home Points…
Use PICO (or alternative) frameworks to
construct search strategies.
Search using freetext (Title & Abstract) & Subject Headings
(thesaurus terms).
Use the EBSCOhost syntax for databases.
Create a personal, MyEBSCO account to save searches, create
search alerts.
Consider using methodological filters (when available) to
identify key articles to give clues for search terms.
52.
53. EBSCO Support Materials
CINAHL Databases - Advanced Searching
Tutorial
Using the CINAHL/MeSH Headings
Feature in EBSCOhost – Tutorial
Advanced Medical Searching on
EBSCOhost
Advanced Searching with CINAHL®
Subject Headings
Advanced Searching with MEDLINE
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Command line Searching
User guides,
helpsheets, FAQs
& flyers
YouTube tutorials
& webinar
recordings
Welcome to this webinar as we review advanced searching or systematic reviews using EBSCOhost research databases available through the University of Galway library service.
I’m Richard Crookes, a Chartered Librarian, working for the EBSCO Customer Training Services team, based in the UK, in the North West of England.
It is my hope that by the end of this session you will be able to
Prepare your search strategy for systematic reviews on EBSCOhost databases using the PICO framework
Manage search results using personal folder & Export Manager
Locate and use methodological search filters
Further support for EBSCOhost databases
Once your search for EBSCO within Primo a list of key EBSCOhost databases will be displayed.
Once you click through to any of these e.g., Academic Search Complete, you will then be presented with information ie content/coverage of the database to determine its relevance to your needs. You may then follow through by Signing in for access.
Essentially the aim is to find what’s currently out there in terms of the literature on any given subject.
These steps relate to the actual search process.
Begin with the agreed research question; then consider how you can translate into the appropriate search tems. You can incorporate wildcards to enhance the likelihood of retrieving relevant search results.
Finally, you are satisfied with the results then you can manage these by saving/exporting as appropriate.
To assist this, we can use various frameworks or techniques to create an appropriate search strategy. PICO is a very popular and effective one but there are many more and some may be more appropriate to the type of review you are supporting.
The PICO acronym stands for:
P – patient, problem or population
I – intervention
C – comparison
O – outcome
Although I have indicated we will use the PICO, clinical framework in this session, I wanted to remind you of the plethora (at least 38 according to Andrew Booth at ScHARR) of frameworks that are available to structure your search, some of which you may have used in the past or even using currently – including CoCoPop and SPICE and for the Arachnophobes SPIDER!
To begin let's understand the question and then identify the key terms we need to search for. As you see, I have highlighted the following terms:
Newborn babies
Waterbirth
Born on dryland
Risk of morbidity, mortality
This table illustrates the four PICO concepts with free-text and subject (thesaurus) terms.
In addition, to find all studies that meet the eligibility criteria it would be advisable to consider incorporating truncation and other wildcards.
To use the asterisk (*) wildcard, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an * E.g., type diabet* to find the words diabetes or diabetic.
The asterisk (*) may also be used between words to match any word. E.g., work * injuries, will return work related injuries, work place injuries
Other wildcards include the question-mark and hash sign. Please note this be applied differently on other platforms such as HDAS.
To use the Question-mark ? wildcard, enter your search terms and replace each unknown character with a ? , e.g., type wom?n to find all records containing woman or women.
To use the Hash # wildcard, enter your search terms and place # where an alternate spelling might contain an extra character. E.g., type p#ediatric to find all citations containing paediatric or pediatric.
In combination: p#ediatric* to find pediatric, pediatrics, pediatrician, pediatricians, paediatric paediatrics, paediatrican, paediatricians
The hash # wildcard before the trailing question mark ? indicates that the question mark should be treated as a wildcard to find exactly one character at the end a word e.g., Monday#? matches Mondays but not Monday.
Furthermore, proximity or precision operators may also be used to enhance the search. Again, these may be different from what you are accustomed to using on other platforms.
Near Operator (N) - N5 finds the words if they are within five words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear. For example, type land n5 birth to find results that would match "land birth” as well as “birth on dry land”
Within Operator (W) - W8 finds the words if they are within eight words of one another and in the order in which you entered them. For example, type childhood W8 obesity to find results that would match childhood obesity but would not match obesity childhood.
Multiple terms can be used on either side of the operator. For example:
(gastroesophageal reflux OR acid reflux) N5 (PPI OR proton pump inhibitors)
(neonatal OR infant) w2 morbidity
Note the combined search strings which comprise the PICO search for this question.
In the initial scoping you may want to select a key article i.e., one that matches the search question, and identify in further keywords or subject terms that you may have missed in the original search. You can then factor them into a revised search and re-run it.
In terms of managing our search results will review the following:
Saving, printing or emailing results.
Using the Export Manager functionality in EBSCOhost.
Saving references and searches using the MyEBSCOhost Folders.
Creating and sharing custom folders.
Creating search alerts in EBSCOhost databases.
For information on the MyEBSCO personal folder account please watch this tutorial.
Search strategies that identify a topic or aspect, or study type e.g. systematic reviews, cost-effectiveness etc.
Tried & test strategies designed for repeated use
Often combined with specific subject terms e.g. breast cancer AND tamoxifen (limited to Randomized Controlled Trial)
Evidence-Based Practice is a value that can be found in the Special Interest field of some CINAHL record and is associated with a record when an article is about the application of Evidence-Based medicine.
Applying this limiter allows you to limit results to:
Articles from evidence-based practice journals
Articles about evidence-based practice
Research articles (including systematic reviews, clinical trials, meta-analyses, etc.)
Commentaries on research studies (applying practice to research)
Clinical Queries - specific search strategies (“hedges”) which can be applied to retrieve clinically-relevant and scientifically-sound results from the CINAHL® databases.
Created in collaboration with the Health Information Research Unit (HIRU) at McMaster University and are designed for clinician use.
For additional information about ongoing research, please visit:
http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/hiru/HIRU_Hedges_home.aspx .
CINAHL searches can be refined using specific search strategies designed to produce results in 5 research areas:
https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/CINAHL-Clinical-Queries?language=en_US
Therapy
Prognosis
Review
Qualitative
Causation (Aetiology)
CINAHL searches can be refined using specific search strategies designed to produce results in 5 research areas:
https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/CINAHL-Clinical-Queries?language=en_US
Therapy
Prognosis
Review
Qualitative
Causation (Aetiology)
And now we will review the use of the filters with a live demo.
To summarise with take home points:
Use PICO (or alternative) frameworks to
construct search strategies.
Search using freetext (Title & Abstract) & Subject Headings (thesaurus terms).
Use the EBSCOhost syntax for databases.
Create a personal, MyEBSCO account to save searches, create search alerts.
Consider using methodological filters (when available) to identify key articles to give clues for search terms.
And further support, please check out the EBSCO Connect tutorials.
Are there any questions or comments?
Thank for your time and attention today for which I hope was a useful introduction to your EBSCOhost research databases. I would appreciate your feedback today using the QR code on the PowerPoint. So please scan if you can!
