This session was delivered to staff and students at the University of Galway by Richard Crookes, Senior Customer Engagement Manager - UK & Ireland.

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Advanced Searching on
EBSCOhost Research Databases
Tuesday, 8th December 2020

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Richard Crookes, MA, MCLIP
Senior Manager Training Services – UK & Eire
9+ years with EBSCO
12+ years Chartered Librarian
MA in Librarianship from University of Sheffield
Customer Training Services

3. Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Prepare your search strategy for systematic reviews on EBSCOhost
databases
Manage search results using personal folder & Export Manager
Locate and use methodological search filters
Further support for EBSCOhost databases

4. EBSCO Databases https://tinyurl.com/y2g5eare
Click on
database title
link to get the
description
Access by
entering
“ebsco”

5. From the
Database page
check the
Description for
subject and
content
coverage

6. Advanced Searching on
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. Q. In patients on ventilators, is there evidence to suggest that oral hygiene involving
toothbrushing is more effective than oral hygiene using chlorhexidine to prevent
ventilator-associated pneumonia?

11. Population Intervention Comparison Outcome
Patients with ventilators Oral hygiene involving
toothbrushing
Oral hygiene using sponge
soaked in chlorhexidine
Preventing ventilator-
associated pneumonia
Patients with ventilators
VENTILATOR, PATIENTS
VENTILATORS,
MECHANICAL
Oral hygiene involving
toothbrushing
TOOTHBRUSHES
TOOTHBRUSHING
Oral hygiene using sponge
soaked in chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine
CHLORHEXIDINE
Preventing ventilator-
associated pneumonia
PNEUMONIA,
VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED
Primary focus is Population / Intervention
Use the PICO process to frame & answer a question

12. Q. How effective are advocacy programmes for women who have experienced
domestic violence to improve women’s quality of life?

13. Population Intervention Comparison Outcome
Women who have
experienced domestic
violence
Advocacy programmes General Practice or routine
treatment
Quality of Life
Domestic violence
Women with abusive
partners
Wife abuse
Partner abuse
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTIMIATE PARTNER
VIOLENCE
Advocacy programmes
Treatment
Individual support
Group support
Counselling
Advocacy
PATIENT ADVOCACY
COUNSELING
SUPPORT GROUPS
Routine treatment
General Practice
Family Practice
Doctors
Healthcare Practitioners
PHYSICIANS, FAMILY
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
FAMILY PRACTICE
Women’s quality of life
QUALITY OF LIFE
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-
BEING
Primary focus is Population / Intervention
Use the PICO process to frame & answer a question

14. #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)

15. #2 Turn the Question in a Search Strategy – Free-Text &
Thesaurus – Finding Subject Headings
Go direct to the Subject Index (CINAHL Subject Headings or MeSH)
for the respective databases to browse

16. #2 Turn the Question in a Search Strategy – Free-Text &
Thesaurus – Use Software Mapping - Suggest Subject Terms*
Mapping Keywords to
CINAHL / MeSH Subject
Headings
* Enabled in EBSCOadmin
(eadmin.ebscohost.com)

17. #2 Using Subject (Thesaurus) Headings
Map keyword (free
text) search to
CINAHL Subject
Heading
Combined
CINAHL
Heading
with
keyword
search

18. #2 Using Subject Headings via Toolbar

21. #3 Using Truncation on EBSCOhost
To use the asterisk (*) wildcard, enter the root of a search term and replace the
ending with an * e.g., diabet* finds 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

22. #3 Using Wildcards on EBSCOhost
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, paediatrician, 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.

23. #3 Using Proximity Operators on EBSCOhost
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 Vitamin C N5 stress to find results that would match Vitamin C stress as well as stress
Vitamin C
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 Vitamin C W8 stress to find results that would match Vitamin C stress but
would not match stress Vitamin C.
Multiple terms can be used on either side of the operator. For example:
(heart attack OR myocardial infarction) N5 (statins OR Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase
Inhibitors)
Insulin W3 (diabetes OR diabetic)

24. #3 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

25. #3 Using the EBSCOhost
syntax
Available from EBSCO
Connect at
https://tinyurl.com/yybnhqyp

26. Using MyEBSCOhost Folders
Saving search results
Saving searches
Creating Search Alerts

27. #4 Managing Search results
1. Saving, printing or emailing results.
2. Using the Export Manager functionality in CINAHL/MEDLINE on
EBSCOhost
3. Saving references and searches using the MyEBSCOhost
Folders
4. Creating and sharing custom folders
5. Creating search alerts in CINAHL/MEDLINE

28. Use Add
to Folder
icons to
save
single
records or
save a
page of
results

29. Items (results) are stored for the duration of the session by users are
required to Sign-In to My EBSCOhost to create a personal, folder to
store results, search etc. beyond the session

30. From the Folder Select Articles to Print / E-mail /
Save or Export

31. 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.

32. Use E-Mail Manager to send
Current Search History, results in
a preferred Citation Format, e.g.
Harvard, or a Customised Field
Format

33. 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

34. #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

35. 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.

36. Click Share to export results
directly from the list (supports
up to 25,000 results)

37. Enter details and choose the
appropriate format etc. A link to
exported results is sent and is
valid for up to 7 days.

38. Using MyEBSCOhost 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 MyEBSCOhost 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

39. Save the Search(es) or Alerts to
the Folder – edit before saving as
needed

40. Sign in to your My
EBSCOhost account or
Create One Now

41. Enter Saved Search
(Permanent or 24 hours)
details and Edit if necessary

42. Create Search Alert by adding details,
setting parameters i.e., Frequency,
duration, format etc.
Alerts are stored in the My EBSCOhost
Folder

43. 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

44. EBSCOhost Support Materials – Using MyEBSCOhost Folders
How to Create and Manage a My EBSCOhost Account
My EBSCOhost Folder - Tutorial
How to Use the My EBSCOhost Folder
EBSCOhost Folder - Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use Custom Folders
Sharing Custom Folders

45. 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

46. Advanced Searching EBSCOhost
Databases
Methodological Filters
for CINAHL

47. 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)

48. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) - CINAHL
When applied, the EBP limiter searches the Special Interest field for the
value "Evidence-Based Practice."
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)

49. 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 .

50. Clinical Queries - CINAHL
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)

51. 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.

53. Take home points…
Use PICO (or alternative) to construct search
queries incorporating Suggest Subject Terms
Search using freetext (Title & Abstract) & Subject
Headings (thesaurus terms)
Use the EBSCOhost syntax for databases
Consider using filters if appropriate or to identify
key articles to give clues for search terms

54. 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

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Thank you!
Richard Crookes MA, MCLIP | SENIOR MANAGER TRAINING SERVICES – UK & EIRE
+44 (0) 781 218 7726
rcrookes@ebsco.com How did we do?
Let us know from
the QR code or on
the evaluation form
below!