Nursing Research Guide

This logic is used in search fields in databases. Each database is different, but most adhere to this logic in the same or similar ways. 

See the logic in the box below by using AND, OR, NOT, quotation marks, parenthesis, and special characters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This example in CINAHL shows using asthma AND inhalers in a search. The search would show results that include both asthma and inhalers.

This example in CINAHL shows using stress OR anxiety in a search. The results would show results with stress or anxiety or both.

 

This example in CINAHL shows using stress OR anxiety OR worry OR pressure OR "mental health" in a search. Using synonyms for a word like stress will retrieve more results since it will be a broader search that could include any of the synonyms. 

 

Subject headings are assigned words or phrases used in a database to organize articles and more. 

• Subject headings can help define your search.
• If there is not a specific subject heading for your topic, you can continue to use keywords and synonyms.
• Each database can have different subject headings, but you can find the list by searching the help feature or looking at the examples.

You may also look at the Major Subjects and Minor Subjects (CINAHL) and keywords and MeSH terms (PubMed) in any article of interest to see if there are terms that would be more helpful in your search.

Looking at similar articles may bring other relevant articles to your searching, but you will need to limit the search again by your keywords, dates, source/article type, etc.

 

The image below shows where to find CINAHL Subject Headings at the top of the webpage and Major Subjects inside the article information page.

 

 

The image below shows PubMed Keywords located under the abstract in article information pages and MeSH Terms link located at the bottom of any PubMed page.