“Tips on the use of online information resources” “Tips on the use of online information resources” Patti Reynolds April 21, 2005

Set your limits list the major concepts that must appear in the articles list the major concepts that must appear in the articles decide if you want a comprehensive search or just a few relevant articles decide if you want a comprehensive search or just a few relevant articles do you want only recent articles or in any relevant material? do you want only recent articles or in any relevant material? are you looking for human research only? are you looking for human research only? are you focusing on a particular population (e.g., gender, age group)? are you focusing on a particular population (e.g., gender, age group)? will you accept articles in languages other than English? will you accept articles in languages other than English? are you looking for a particular type of publication (e.g., review articles, meta-analyses, clinical trials)? are you looking for a particular type of publication (e.g., review articles, meta-analyses, clinical trials)?

The Search Break the question down into various concepts Break the question down into various concepts Search for one concept at a time Search for one concept at a time Add concepts one at a time using boolean connectors – AND, OR, NOT Add concepts one at a time using boolean connectors – AND, OR, NOT Identify synonyms Identify synonyms Generic/trade names for drugs (use both) Generic/trade names for drugs (use both) Acronyms - clinical trials Acronyms - clinical trials

AND, OR, NOT???? Boolean logic refers to the logical relationship among search terms, and is named for the British-born Irish mathematician George Boole. Boolean logic refers to the logical relationship among search terms, and is named for the British-born Irish mathematician George Boole. AND is a limiting term – makes the search results smaller AND is a limiting term – makes the search results smaller OR is a combining term – makes search results larger OR is a combining term – makes search results larger Not is a nullifying term – eliminates items entirely from search Not is a nullifying term – eliminates items entirely from search

AND, OR, NOT

Cl Cloning AND Ethics AND Humans

Statin Stroke Search results AND Statin articles in PubMed Stroke articles in PubMed Statin and stroke - 218

When to use OR ALS amyolateral sclerosis (als OR amyolateral sclerosis ) AND treatment

Statin stroke OR Statin articles in PubMed Stroke articles in PubMed Statin and stroke (diff-218) Eliminates duplicates

Statin stroke NOT Statin articles in PubMed Stroke articles in PubMed Statin and stroke Statin AND Stroke NOT DVT NOT therapy - 15 DVT therapy

PubMed “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD NOT nursing “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD NOT nursing “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD AND treatment NOT surgery “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” OR IBD AND treatment NOT surgery

Google The "AND" operator is unnecessary -- we include all search terms by default The "AND" operator is unnecessary -- we include all search terms by default Use a + sign or put phrase in quotes Use a + sign or put phrase in quotes Star Wars + 4 Star Wars + 4 “Star Wars 4” “Star Wars 4” Use a –(minus) sign for NOT Use a –(minus) sign for NOT Minus sign must be next to word: -dog Minus sign must be next to word: -dog

Google “deep vein thrombosis” “New England Journal of Medicine” = 8,000 “deep vein thrombosis” “New England Journal of Medicine” = 8,000 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA“ = 753 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA“ = 753 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" = 281 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" = 281 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" image = 111 "deep vein thrombosis" “New England Journal of Medicine" + "JAMA" image = 111

Google "sea ray" + florida image + specs "sea ray" + florida image + specs "black lexus" + image + florida =34 "black lexus" + image + florida =34 "black lexus" + image + florida –blog = 30 "black lexus" + image + florida –blog = 30 Mexico –new; Hampshire –new Mexico –new; Hampshire –new

Consider the source Focus on web sites that have edu, gov, org in the URL. Focus on web sites that have edu, gov, org in the URL. Google searches Google searches statin stroke gov statin stroke gov statin stroke +edu (google considers.edu a common word – must use the +) statin stroke +edu (google considers.edu a common word – must use the +) statin stroke +org statin stroke +org

More tips Use edit/find command for everything Use edit/find command for everything Add when trying to find a person Add when trying to find a person Example: infobutton cimino Example: infobutton cimino Department of Medical Informatics Department of Medical Informatics Add powerpoint Add powerpoint Add image Add image Add pdf Add pdf Add doc Add doc