There are many different ways to search for information in databases.
One way to get you started with searching is to:
If a database has a thesaurus (CINAHL has CINAHL Headings; Medline has MeSH), you can browse it for subject headings, see the scope note or definition of a subject heading, and see related terms that you might use.
Search Tips:
Start developing a search strategy by identifying the key words and concepts within your research question.
For example: What strategies can healthcare workers use to communicate effectively with clients with a hearing disability?
Treat each component as a separate concept (there are usually between 2-4 concepts).
For each concept list the key words derived from your research question, as well as any other relevant terms or synonyms that you have found in your preliminary searches. Also consider singular and plural forms of words, variant spellings, acronyms and relevant index terms (subject headings).
While the term strategies has been identified as a concept in this example, there are likely to be relevant articles that do not include terms such as strategies. As such, this concept would not be included in the final search strategy.
| Search concept 1 | Search concept 2 | Search concept 3 | Search concept 4 |
| strategies | healthcare workers | communication | hearing disability |
| methods | healthcare professionals | communicating | hearing impairment |
| health personnel | interpersonal communication | hearing impaired | |
| health professional | communication skills | deaf | |
| hard-of-hearing |
The above search strategy in a nested format (for use in a single search box) would look like:
("healthcare worker*" OR "health care worker*" OR "healthcare professional*" OR "health professional*" OR "health personnel") AND (communicat* OR "interpersonal communication" OR "communication skill*") AND ("hearing disabilit*" OR "hearing impair*" OR deaf* OR "hard of hearing" OR "hearing loss")