What Sources Should You Use?
Systematic reviews seek to gather all relevant studies on a particular topic, requiring thorough and time-intensive searches.
The studies included in these reviews are restricted to primary research studies, excluding reviews or secondary sources. You are looking specifically for randomized control trials.
PCOM Library has many databases that might be useful for you. Commonly used databases include:
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PubMedPubMed is a database maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It provides access to a vast collection of biomedical literature, including millions of citations from journals in fields like medicine, life sciences, nursing, dentistry, and health policy.
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EmbaseEmbase is a biomedical and pharmacological database that provides access to peer-reviewed literature. It is widely used by researchers and healthcare professionals for evidence-based studies, particularly in pharmacology and clinical trials, and includes international content not always found in other databases like PubMed.
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CINAHL® UltimateCINAHL® Ultimate is a comprehensive database for nursing and allied health professionals, providing access to a vast collection of research articles, evidence-based practice resources, and educational materials. CINAHL® Ultimate covers a wide range of topics, including clinical practices, healthcare management, patient care, and nursing education.
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Cochrane LibraryThe Cochrane Library is an online collection of high-quality, evidence-based resources designed to support healthcare decision-making. It includes several key databases, such as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), which contains systematic reviews on healthcare interventions, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), a database of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
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ScopusWidely used by researchers and institutions, Scopus offers tools for citation analysis, author profiles, and tracking research trends in fields like science, medicine, and social sciences. It is a key resource for evaluating research impact and discovering new studies.
Creating a Searching Strategy
Creating a search strategy begins with identifying key terms, which can be done using PICO (Patient/ Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) to shape your research question. The most effective keywords will come from each element of your PICO; your list should be as comprehensive as possible. You can always refine your terms later to narrow down the results.
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms differ from regular keywords. These terms won’t appear in non-indexed articles on PubMed. If you’re unsure how to use MeSH terms, please ask a librarian for assistance.
To develop an optimal search strategy, two factors must be balanced: precision and broadness. A successful strategy is precise enough to minimize irrelevant studies while having sufficient broadness to capture a large number of relevant articles. Focusing solely on one factor doesn’t provide a complete view of the search strategy. When developing search strategies, if your search results in many irrelevant articles, the strategy isn’t effective and you'll need to refine your search.
There are a lot of factors that go into creating a search strategy. Please feel free to consult a librarian for more assistance.