For year 2 BSc Veterinary Nursing students at Middlesex University

1. Literature
Searching
VET2703 January 2017

2. © Middlesex University
What will we be doing today?
• Evaluating a good and a not-so-good search
strategy
• Refreshing your search skills with Summon
• Exploring some specialist sources for finding
journal articles
• Identifying primary and secondary research
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3. © Middlesex University
Doing a literature review
• Aim is to comprehensively review what is known
(published) on a subject – the “evidence base”
• Can be the starting point for further research – “sets the
scene” – and/or application to practice
• Two parts:
• Thorough literature search
• Critical analysis of the findings
• For this module: 3000 word research/dissertation proposal
including 2000 word literature review
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4. © Middlesex University
Activity 1 – Search Strategies
• In pairs, look at the two search strategies you have been
given.
• Think about the strengths and weaknesses of each
strategy – which do you think is better, and why?
5 minutes
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5. © Middlesex University
Search Strategy
A search strategy aims to identify as many as possible relevant
research papers that meet the criteria of the review question.
This should include:
• The specific search terms (keywords) used
• The names of the databases searched
• The date(s) of the search
• Any grey literature searched (e.g. research published by
charities, universities, professional organisations and
conference papers)
• Any other forms of searching (such as following up references,
personal correspondence)
• The inclusion/exclusion criteria used in the search
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6. © Middlesex University
Activity 2 – Searching
“Veterinary practices in the UK are seeing increasing
numbers of overweight dogs with associated health
issues such as diabetes and joint problems. Research
has identified a number of risk factors for canine obesity
including frequency of treats and insufficient exercise
(Holmes et al., 2007; Courcier et al., 2010).
What evidence is there for the most effective ways of
preventing and/or managing obesity in dogs?”
Carry out a search on Summon for articles related to
this topic.
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7. © Middlesex University
How did it go?
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8. © Middlesex University
Planning your search: the PICO
model
• Patient / population / problem
• Intervention
• Comparison
• Outcome
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9. © Middlesex University
Brainstorm – Canine obesity
Canines
• Dogs
• Ages?
• Breeds?
Obesity
• Obese
• Overweight
• Weight management
• Weight loss
• Healthy weight
• Related conditions, e.g.
diabetes, osteoarthritis
Prevention /
management
• Diet
• Nutrition
• Food / feeding
• Exercise
• Attitudes (owners,
professionals)
• Education / advice
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What is the role
of the veterinary
nurse in
prevention and
management of
canine obesity?

10. © Middlesex University
For any question…
• Select the important keywords, related concepts
or ideas within your question;
• Think of possible synonyms e.g. equine or
horses;
• Carry out searches for your keywords – rather
than the whole question at once
• Combine searches on the same or similar
subjects with OR - e.g. spaying OR
ovariohysterectomy
• Combine searches on different subjects using
AND - e.g. diabetes AND cats
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11. © Middlesex University
Beyond Summon – other places to
search
• Databases (MyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases)
— Medline / PubMed
— Science Direct
— InterNurse / CINAHL / British Nursing Index for nursing topics (e.g.
theories, models, care planning…)
• Google Scholar
• Individual journals specific to your topic
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12. © Middlesex University
Activity 3: try your search on a different
database
Looking at your search results:
• How many results do you get? (Compare with the other
databases)
• What kind of articles are they?
• Are your results from a range of journals?
• Can you refine your results further?
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13. © Middlesex University
Google Scholar – useful features
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Articles that
have
referenced
this one
The same article on
other websites –
sometimes good for
getting full text
Full text from
Middlesex and
other sources
BUT…
• Limited ability to combine different keywords
• Older articles can appear first in results – use the date limits!

14. © Middlesex University
Activity 4: Primary or Secondary?
• In your groups, look at the ABSTRACTS and/or first
pages of the articles
• Is it primary or secondary research?
• How can you tell?
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15. © Middlesex University
Distinguishing between primary and
secondary sources
• Primary sources - original research written up and
published by the researchers in peer-reviewed
journals
— The title may mention the type of research e.g. ‘a qualitative study’
— Includes sections such as methods, results, discussion
• Secondary sources – work that summarises,
critiques or reviews primary research
— e.g. A literature review, a systematic review
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16. © Middlesex University
Critiquing research – why?
• Part of your literature review!
• Analysing research to judge its trustworthiness, validity
and relevance in a particular context
• As practitioners it ensures that your decisions are based
on good quality evidence
• The more you read the easier it gets
• Saves time by being able to assess if a piece of research
is of good quality and worth reading
• Develop the ability to make your own judgements on
whether a research conclusion is valid
• Resources on your Library Subject Guide
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/veterinarynursing/critiquing
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17. © Middlesex University
Today you have…
• Evaluated a good and a not-so-good search strategy
• Refreshed your search skills with Summon
• Explored some specialist sources for finding journal
articles
• Identified primary and secondary research
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18. © Middlesex University
Need further help?
• Librarians available in the Study Hub (library 1st floor)
Monday-Friday 9-5
• 1-1 appointments bookable via your library subject guide
• Jo Wilson j.r.wilson@mdx.ac.uk
• https://unihelp.mdx.ac.uk/askalibrarian
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