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How to make a literature search

How to make a literature search. Introduction about basic search methods and how to use catalogues, databasses and other internet sources. Content. a) Defining the Topic. 1. Developing a Search Strategy. Make brainstorming before you start and try to structure your ideas

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How to make a literature search

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  1. How to make a literature search Introduction about basic search methods and how to use catalogues, databasses and other internet sources

  2. Content

  3. a) Defining the Topic 1. Developing a Search Strategy Make brainstorming before you start and try to structure your ideas Identify main and side aspects to your search and try to find major and minor keywords Think of synonyms and variations (e.g. grammar, plural) of your keywords Use a dictionary or a handbook to get an overview.

  4. b) Choose Keywords and Search Strategy • Strategy 1: “Blockbuilding-approach (BBL)“ Means to split your search topic in single terms • Strategy 2: “Citation pearl growing approach“ Means you start with a known citation, may be a key-article and reuse this keywordsm, subject- headings, reference list to find more articles. Like a snowball system. • Choose the appropriate source for searchingDependent on questions like „Do I need the latest infor- mation?“, “Is my topic very specific or more general?“, “What kind of publication do I need?“

  5. c) Combining Keywords In Databases, Catalogues and Search engines single terms are combined with so called “Boolean Operators“ • AND A AND B

  6. OR A OR B • NOT A NOT B

  7. d) Vary your Search • Depending on your result you have to vary your search with different search terms • A search means always a brinkmanship of finding too much or too less • Rule: The more complete your search should be, the more irrelevant hits will be included. On the other hand, in case all hits are relevant, then it is likely that there are more hits which are excluded by your search strategy.

  8. 2. Databases a) What is a database? • An organized collection of information to a special field or subject • Organized means all documents are indexed with special descriptors or subject headings • }Bibliographic databases contain descriptive information about publications}Fulltext databases are including them

  9. Some important terms that are related to databases (and catalogues)

  10. Tree-structure for term “Smoking“ in PubMed

  11. b) Database profiles MEDLINE (Version PUBMED)

  12. Entry page of PUBMED

  13. POPLINE

  14. Entry page of POPLINE

  15. LILACS

  16. Entry page of LILACS

  17. Index Medicus Africa

  18. Entry Page of African Index Medicus

  19. 3. Catalogues A catalogue is more incomplete than a database.In opposite to bibliographic databases it includes only documents that are locally available and gives information about their location. Online resources can also be part of a catalogue, even ifthey are located somewhere else.

  20. Links see Chapter “LINKS“

  21. Search menu of „HEIDI“

  22. Search menu of „WHOLIS“

  23. 4. Internet Sources a) Search engines Search enginesare programmes that are searching the World Wide Web and finding and indexing sites.In spite of the enormous number of hits, it is estimated that search engines are only finding 5% of the complete WWW (the rest ist so called Deep or Invisible Web). Not searchable are: }In Databases and Catalogues stored information }Protected Websites}Dynamic Websites

  24. b) Open Source

  25. 5. LINKS

  26. 6. Excercises a) Bibliographic Search Find the follow articles / books. Use the appropriate catalogue! 1. Reinke, William A.: Health planning for effective management New York, Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1988. - ISBN 0-19-505337-0 2. Cook, J.A.: Tropical medicine and health in the developing worldAm J Trop Med Hyg. 38. 1998 : 459-65 3. Bennett, Sara ; Creese, Andrew ; Monasch, Roeland: Health insurance scheme for people outside formal sector employment. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1998 WHO/ARA/CC/98.14. AbouZahr, Carla : Maternal mortality overview In: Health dimensions of sex and reproduction. Ed. by Christopher L. Murray ... Geneva: World Health Organization, 1998. pp. 111 – 164. – (Global burden of disease and injury series)

  27. b) Subject Search Use Medline/PubMed to find articles to the following topics: 1. Chloroquine-resistant Malaria in Tanzania 2. Studies on the introduction of charges for health care in developing countries 3. Assessment of nutritional status in infants and preschool children Try to mark and download or print relevant articles

  28. Use search engines to find … 1. Find statistics on the prevalence of AIDS in Africa (Try UNAIDS site via WHO website) 2. Find at least one article from Mr. Rainer Sauerborn about childhood mort- ality in Burkina Faso. How often is this article cited from other persons in their articles?

  29. Search example Cost-effectiveness of immunization programmes in Africa Ideas what can be part of this this topic: Search terms:

  30. References Guistini, D. ; Barsky, E. A look at Google Scholar, PubMed and Scirus: comparisons and recommendations. JCHLA / JABSC. 2005: 26: 85-89 Steinbrock, R. Serching for the right search – reaching the medical literature. New Engl J Med. 2006; 354(1): 4-5 Eyers, J.E. Sources of information in tropical medicine. In: Cook, G.C.(ed.) Manson‘s tropical diseases, 21st. ed. London: Saunders, 2002 : 1807- 1815 Eyers, J.E. How to do (or not to do)… Searching bibliographic databases effectively. Health Pol Plann 1988; 13(3): 339-342

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