This document provides guidance on conducting basic searches in CINAHL and PubMed databases for physical therapy topics. It outlines how to perform keyword searches, refine results using filters like limiting to English or human subjects, and save relevant articles. Full-text articles can be accessed directly or requested through the library. The document demonstrates searching techniques like using Boolean operators and filters to expand or narrow the results as needed.

1. SEARCH BASICS
Cinahl & PubMed for Physical Therapy
Jessica Cole, MLIS, AHIPPT 685
November 5, 2013

2. Objectives
 Conduct basic keyword searches in Cinahl &
PubMed.
 Refine results with Filters (i.e. Limit results to
English or Humans only).
 Save the “best” articles from search results:
Use the Cinahl FOLDER and the PubMed
CLIPBOARD.
 Access or request full text articles through
library proxy.

3. Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health
Literature
Part I. CINAHL

4. • More than 3.8 million records dating back to 1937
• Physical therapy terminology recognized
• Contains searchable cited references for 1,160+
journals with full text for hundreds of journals
(EBSCO interface)

5. http://azhin.org/pbc/CHHS
UA Cinahl at PBC only. UA & NAU
have different full text availability.

6. Enter one
keyword,
Or search
multiple
terms/lines at
once
Leave on default
(Select a field) for a
basic keyword
search
Knee osteoarthritis
Therapeutic exercise
More Limits are available by
scrolling down. Try your
search first without limits to
get a feel for the volume of
articles matching your
keyword search. Limits can
be applied later.

7. Refine Search-Use Limits-Apply Filters
(All mean same thing)
If you want fewer, more targeted articles
after seeing the 431 results, click Advanced
Search or Show More to apply filters.
(Either click provides the same options.)

8. Tips
Recommended Limits:
• ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
• HUMAN
DO NOT limit to Full
Text!
Use filters sparingly

9. Full Text Articles (From Result View)
Sometimes the PDF is listed
with results, other times, click
on Linked Full Text or Check
for Full Text. Article can be
requested through Cline
Library if not available.

10. Full Text (From Abstract View)

11. Save Articles
 When viewing an
abstract (after clicking
article title from list of
results) these tools
are available on the
right side of the
screen.
 Email an article to
yourself, or use “Add
to folder” to collect
“good” results as you
go, and then at the
end of your
session, you can
email everything at

12. Boolean Operators

13. Medline
Part II. PubMed

14. • Free MEDLINE access (Nat’l Library of Medicine database)
• 23 million references from 5600+ journals
• Coverage: Medicine, dentistry, nursing, healthcare
systems, pre-clinical sciences+
• Some free articles - Linkout to your library’s articles
(Enter through library proxy for full text links)
• Handles searches from very basic to complex
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/pubmed.ht

15. Basic Search with Results

16. PMID # - Quickly
Retrieve in Search Box
Publication Type -
Critical Analysis: Levels
of Evidence
MeSH - Controlled
Vocabulary/“Aboutness”
Full Text?
NAU:
Similar Citations

17. 1) Decide which filter
categories to display by
clicking show additional
filters, checking boxes, &
clicking Show.
2) Then limit your results
by clicking on one or more
of the choices underneath
the filter categories. A
checkmark appears to the
left when filter is used.
Remember to “Clear”
filters when finished or
PubMed will keep them
active in your next
session/search.

18. Use Filters to Limit Results
A checkmark
appears next
to a filter that
has been
activated.
You can
apply more
than one
limit at a
time.

19. Save Articles
 Checkmark an article and E-mail it to yourself.
 Or, checkmark articles throughout your search
session, save them to the Clipboard, and then
email all of them to yourself at the end.

20. Search Tips (Cinahl &/or PubMed)
 TOO MANY RESULTS?
 Add more search terms with AND (i.e. osteoarthritis AND physical
therapy)
 Use filters/limits to narrow results (i.e. Humans & English only)
 NOT ENOUGH RESULTS?
 Broaden search with OR (i.e. aqua therapy OR aquatic exercises)
 Find one “good” reference and view Related Citations in PubMed
 Remove filters
 DO:
 Experiment! (Keywords, Boolean operators, filters)
 Save “good” references as you go so you can find your way back to
them (i.e. Use Clipboard in PubMed/Add to Folder in CINAHL)
 DO NOT:
 Don’t use filters to limit results to Full Text availability – this is not