This guide will disappear on March 4, 2010!
Please visit http://researchguides.wcu.edu/healthcare
for a NEW Research Guide for Healthcare Professions.
Need some healthcare research articles?
PDF version of these instructions
5-minute screencast of these instructions
1. Go to the library homepage. Beneath “Articles/Databases” at the right, click Academic Search Premier. If you are not in Cullowhee, enter your name and ID/92- number.
2. Look for the EBSCOhost logo followed by a search box. Above the search box, click the “Choose Databases” link. Check databases applying to your topic. Generally, add these for all health searches:
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CINAHL with Full Text – use for any allied health search – this is a great database!
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Medline with Full Text – use for most medical searches (same info as PubMed)
- PsycINFO – use for topics affected by or affecting mental health (almost everything)
Scroll to the bottom and click OK.
3. On the main search page, look under “Search Options” and go to “Limit your results.”
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Check the “Peer Reviewed” box if you are looking for scholarly or peer reviewed information.
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To get recent articles, fill in a desired range (e.g., 2004 to 2009) in “Published Date from” years.
If you are in a time crunch, click “Full Text.” Caution: clicking “Full Text” may eliminate full text online articles that come outside of EBSCOhost and other relevant articles.
4. Build a good search phrase. If you are unfamiliar with your topic, use a credible resource like MedlinePlus to find synonymous terms and better understand your topic.
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Use and between words you want to appear: tennis elbow and therapy
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Use or between words that have similar meanings: tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis
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Use * asterisk for words with multiple endings: treat* to get treat, treatment, treating, etc.
- Use () parentheses to use and/or together: (tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis) and treat*
Want more? “What the Heck is Boolean Searching?”
5. Click the search button. To the right of the listing of the number of results received, click "Sort by," choose "Relevance,” and click “Update Results.”
6. Click “Add to folder” to save citations.
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Click the top folder icon to email yourself or download selections before exiting.
- When emailing, you can specify a citation format (AMA, APA, etc.) by selecting the Citation Format option to the right of the screen.
7. To find the full text of an article, click PDF, Linked, HTML, or Search for Full Text links.
If you have trouble accessing an online article, look the JOURNAL title up in the E-journal List.
If you receive a “Sorry” message and we do not have what you need, use Interlibrary Loan.
If you have trouble finding resources, call the Reference Desk at 1-866-928-5424 or email Ann Hallyburton at ahallyb@email.wcu.edu. Also, visit the full health research guide for help finding evidence-based research and more!
Need help writing or citing your paper? Use the help services available from the Writing Center for BOTH Cullowhee-based and DISTANCE students.