JKM Library: Occupational Therapy: Searching with PICO

	: 2024-2025 Hours

Steps to Searching

Create a well defined question (PICO).
Brainstorm alternate words and concepts.
Construct your search strategy.
Select databases (see Articles).
Tailor your search to the database.
Use a reference manager to organize findings, like Zotero or Mendeley.

Other Search Tips

Most databases provide basic and advanced search modes. Advanced searching allows you to utilize more limiters to focus your search.

Use limiters to help focus your search to specific populations, types of studies, and more.

Don't expect to find the "golden ticket" resource! Research is a process of synthesizing results from various search processes.

Constructing a Search

Use Boolean operators to join your search terms. Here's how they work.

AND	limits results and returns terms joined with AND	falls AND long term care
OR	expands results, returns either word, use with synonymous terms. best used in conjunction with an AND search	sensory processing AND teenagers OR adolescents
NOT	excludes terms from search	dolphins NOT Miami

Keywords vs Subject Terms

While thinking of related terms and concepts is useful in searching, some databases, like CINAHL and MEDLINE, also utilize subject headings. Knowing the difference between them and when to use a keyword vs. a subject heading can have an impact on your search results.

Keywords	Subject Headings
Looks for word occurrence in multiple locations of results	Only searches the subject headings field of results
Is a broader search and will yield more results, not all of them relevant	Is more precise, and yields less, although more relevant results
You can "make up" a keyword	Subject headings are chosen from a preexisting list and cannot be altered

Occupational Therapy: Searching with PICO

Steps to Searching

Other Search Tips

Constructing a Search

Use Boolean operators to join your search terms. Here's how they work.

Keywords vs Subject Terms

Keywords

Subject Headings