This document provides an overview of systematic searching techniques, including how Boolean operators like AND, OR and NOT can be used to expand or limit searches. It also discusses PICO and ECLIPS frameworks for developing search strategies and compares natural language searches to searches using controlled vocabularies. Finally, it lists several databases that can be searched for evidence-based materials, clinical research, and information related to health professions.

1. Systematic Searching Kieran Lamb Head of Library Services Fade Library, Liverpool PCT

2. OR, AND, NOT PICO and ECLIPS tools to make designing a search strategy easy Natural Language and Controlled Vocabularies explained Where to Search? Outline

3. OR OR – expands a search by creating an either or situation FISH OR CHIPS Retrieves FISH CHIPS FISH AND CHIPS

4. AND AND – limits a search by creating an situation where all elements must be present FISH AND CHIPS Retrieves FISH AND CHIPS

5. NOT – limits a search by creating an situation by excluding records CHIPS NOT FISH Retrieves CHIPS NOT

6. PICO P – patient or population I – Intervention C – Comparison O – Outcome Within columns OR between columns AND

7. ECLIPS E – Expectation C – Client Group L – Location I – Impact P – Profesionals involved S – Service Within columns OR between columns AND

8. Controlled Vocabularies use preferred terms to describe concepts e.g. the MESH preferred term for PRIMARY CARE is PRIMARY HEALTH CARE Natural language searches search for the term exactly as you type it and is author dependent. Systematic searches will use both natural language and controlled vocabularies in their strategy Natural Language and Controlled Vobaularies

9. Natural Language v Controlled Vobaularies + ensures maximum retrieval + precisely defined and consitent + hierarchy enhances search + brownie points for assignments! - time lag in adoption of new concepts need to be consistently applied native to each product + simple and natural + precise way of searching (superficially) + keeps up-to-date with new developments - Soft use of languages means synonyms predominate Controlled Vocabulary Searches for preferred key terms Natural Language Searches for exactly the term you type

10. Databases to Search NHS Evidence – Synthesised evidence and materials from NHS Evidence Specialist Collections (Evidence based materials) Cochrane Library - CDR, HTA, DARE, NHSeed, Methodology Register, Controlled Trials Register (Evidence based materials) AMED (Complementary medicine and allied health) BNI (Nursing) CINAHL (Nursing and allied health) Embase (Clinical medicine and pharmacology) HMIC (Policy and management) Medline (Clinical medicine, Allied Health, Nursing, Vet Science) PsycINFO (Psychology and mental health) Best Bets (Evidence based materials) Trip Database (Evidence based materials)

11. Further ?s Time to Search