1. Literature searching using Search 2.0

2. Formulate a search question Access the electronic databases
General objective
Know how to carry out effective literature searches using databases such as MEDLINE and CINAHL through the Dialog interface.
Specific objectives
Formulate a search question
Access the electronic databases
Search for literature on a given subject using an appropriate database
Combine the results of a number of searches
Limit the number of citations retrieved by a search
Display, print, and save citations
Firstly, what is a literature search.
It is simply the process of looking for information, material, publications on a topic.
It isn’t just about literature from books, but can cover journal articles, reports, conferences, etc

3. What is a literature search?
the process of systematically identifying published material or information, which is relevant to your particular topic or area of interest
can include books, journals, reports, videos, conferences, theses, seminars, web pages and many other publication types.

4. What is PICO? Patient/Population/Condition Intervention/Exposure
Comparison(s)
Outcome(s)
A well formulated clinical question will usually contain 4 elements.
PICO
Patient
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

5. P Patient or Population
Who is the question about?
age
sex
ethnicity
condition or disease
Try to identify as many characteristics as possible
The P stands for Patient or population.
This is the part of the question where we say WHO we are trying to find information about.
It could be based on age group, such as neonates.
It could be the sex - female patient
Ethnicity may be important
or we might use the condition or disease from which the patient suffers

6. I Intervention What is being done to the patient? Diagnostic test
Treatment
Drug therapy
Counselling
exposure to something in the environment
Next is I for Intervention
This is where you state what is being done to the patient
are they having/have they had an operation
are they taking a particular drug
are they receiving counselling

7. C Comparison What are you comparing the intervention to?
Another treatment
no treatment
It is not always necessary to specify a comparison
C is comparison
Usually we want to compare whether an intervention is effective, as compared to something else.
Is one drug better than another
The comparision may even be no treatment
is it best to have the operation or not
We don’t always have to specify a comparison.

8. O Outcomes What effect is the intervention having? Reduced pain
Improved quality of life
Side effects
Finally the O is for Outcomes
What effect is the intervention having
reduced pain
improved quality of life
side effects

9. Scenario 1
A patient has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Their mum has read on the internet that beta interferon slows down the onset of this condition. They would like to know how true this is and if they can be prescribed it.
It might be useful to highlight or underline the parts of the query that you think will be important aspects of your search.
So from this scenario you might pick out the following aspects.
We then need to apply the PICO
So, who is our patient/population/conditon - female with minor depression
What intervention/treatment are we looking at? - SSRI
What are we comparing it to? - St John’s Wort
and what is the outcome - ease symptoms - fatigue, loss of interest

10. Scenario 1
A patient has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Their mum has read on the internet that beta interferon slows down the onset of this condition. They would like to know how true this is.
It might be useful to highlight or underline the parts of the query that you think will be important aspects of your search.
So from this scenario you might pick out the following aspects.
We then need to apply the PICO
So, who is our patient/population/conditon - female with minor depression
What intervention/treatment are we looking at? - SSRI
What are we comparing it to? - St John’s Wort
and what is the outcome - ease symptoms - fatigue, loss of interest

11. Applying PICO Patient Multiple sclerosis Intervention Beta interferon
Comparison
None – not taking it
Outcome
Slow down the onset
Does beta interferon slow down the onset of multiple sclerosis?

12. Scenario 2
A patient has just had surgery for breast cancer. They are feeling fed up and are not interested in leaving the house. You wonder whether running or yoga may be beneficial for them to give them something to focus on and revive their spirits .

13. Scenario 2
A patient has just had surgery for breast cancer. They are feeling fed up and are not interested in leaving the house. You wonder whether running or yoga may be beneficial for them to give them something to focus on and revive their spirits .

14. Applying PICO Patient Breast cancer Intervention Running Comparison
Yoga
Outcome
Revive spirits
Does yoga or running help improve the quality of life in breast cancer patients?