Steps for performing an effective literature search:

• Formulate your question - first think through your question to identify as simply as possible the question you need to answer in your search.  This will be covered in detail in our next class.
  
• Break the question down into key concepts
  
• Decide the depth of information you need on the topic - for example do you need a quick 2 or 3 page introduction to the topic, an in depth analysis of the topic for a patient with an unusual or advanced clinical problem, or a quick review of how to treat a non serious clinical condition.
  
• Consider the KBI format most likely to be able to help you:

Text book (print or digital) - full text - key word - overview

Bibliographic database (print or digital) - articles - specific topic - most recent research as specifics aspects of the topic -  controlled vocabulary

                Internet based - wide range of formats - Quality assessment important

• Identify the appropriate digital sources you plan on searching specifically looking at whether it is an index with a specific subject vocabulary (such as MEDLINE) or if it is a full text resources in which you search the full content (such as StatRef).  
  
• Formulate and execute your search (This a brief review of what is covered in the Medline Tutorials):
  1. Identify the key concepts in your question
  2. Enter each concept as a search statement using the mapping and subheadings as appropriate.
  3. Combine your concepts using Boolean Logic which is the method for combining your key concepts into a search.  Click here and review this introduction to the use of Boolean logic for subject searching.
  4. Select the relevant citations and print or save them on your computer.
     
• Review your findings (step 4 in EBM) - If you have succeeded in finding reliable information to answer the question you posed than use it and proceed.  If not than reformulate and refocus your search based on what you did find until you have located the information needed.

Remember to come see Mike in the LRC for assistance if you need help or want further instruction in expert searching.