OTA 240: Article Review Project (Dawson)

For this database . . .

• Use Boolean operators to connect terms and phrases:  AND, OR, NOT
• Always use Advanced Search
• Choose Peer Reviewed
• Published Date – last 5 years
• Not everything in this database is full text
• Check for full text in ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source
• Try using Suggest Subject Terms

Advanced search options to consider:

• Special Interest:  Occupational Therapy; Home Health Care, etc.
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Age Groups
• Human

Subject Headings

The word you use to describe something might not be the same as what someone else uses. Use Suggest Subject Terms to find the "right" word or phrase to describe your topic, disease, medication, intervention, etc. 

When you use the subject terms suggested by the database, synonyms, alternative spellings, and similar variations which describe the same topic are brought together under a single subject heading term (controlled vocabulary).

The suggested term for cancer in this case, is neoplasms.

Click neoplasms, check the box next to neoplasms, then click Search Database.

Using CINAHL Subject Headings (or Suggest Subject Terms) gives you access to extra search tools:

• Tree – click the hyperlink heading to view related terms (broad or more specific)
• Scope Note – definition of the subject heading
• Explode – includes results with your selected heading plus all of its more specific terms
• Major Concept – narrow your list to documents whose major point is your chosen heading
• Subheadings – narrow the focus of your list to emphasize a particular aspect