Find Clinical Guidelines

1. Option: use the "Clinical Guidelines" links in the key databases box on this page to search for clinical guidelines using some of these search strategies:

• search for a specific topic
• search with this word: nursing
• if provided, use "nursing" limiter or filter tools
• search for guidelines published by nursing associations or organizations

2. Option: conduct an internet search using this formula: nursing "clinical guidelines" "your topic"

example: nursing "clinical guidelines" "wound management"
note that you will need to determine if the guidelines are evidence-based

Find RCTs (randomized controlled trials)

1. Option: use the linked tools in the key databases box on this page and employ some of these search strategies:

• use the PICO acronym to construct the basics of your question and identify key search words

Find Controlled Trials Without Randomization (quasi-experimental studies)

1. Option: use the linked tools in the key databases box on this page and employ some of these search strategies:

• use the PICO acronym to construct the basics of your question and identify key search words

Find Cohort, Case Control, Cross-Sectional, Case Studies (non-experimental studies)

1. Option: use the linked tools in the key databases box on this page and employ some of these search strategies:

• use the PICO acronym to construct the basics of your question and identify key search words

Find Qualitative Studies

1. Option: use the linked tools in the key databases box on this page and employ some of these search strategies:

2. FIRST, use the PICO acronym to construct the basics of your question and identify key search words. Add those words to a database.

3. THEN, try adding the different strategies below
(these will help narrow your results, but you still need to look at individual articles/abstracts and assess if they are qualitative studies)

• ANY DATABASE

  • option-  in the search box type: qualitative and then choose "subject" from drop-down menu
     
  • option - copy and paste the following text string into one search box:
    "qualitative research" OR "qualitative study" OR "qualitative methods" OR interview OR ethnograph* OR phenomenol* OR "grounded theory" OR "focus groups" OR "lived experience" OR "narrative"
     
  • option (RECOMMENDED) - copy and paste this text string into the search box to capture "high specificity" or more focused results:
    • FIRST copy and paste the following text string into one search box:
      "qualitative research" OR "qualitative study" OR "qualitative methods" OR interview OR ethnograph* OR phenomenol* OR "grounded theory" OR "focus groups" OR "lived experience" OR "narrative"
    • THEN, select NOT from the drop-down options of the next search box and copy and paste this text string into that one box:
      "Experimental Studies" OR "Nonexperimental Studies" OR "Quasi-Experimental Studies" OR “randomized controlled” OR “control group"
       
  • option - copy and paste this text string into the search box to capture "high sensitivity" or broader results:
    ethnograph* OR phenomenol* OR ethnonurs* OR "grounded theor*" OR "purposive sample" OR hermeneutic* OR heuristic* OR semiotics OR "lived experience" OR “lived experiences” OR narrative* OR "life experiences" OR "cluster sample" OR "action research" OR "observational method" OR "content analysis" OR "thematic analysis" OR "constant comparative method" OR “field study” OR “field study” OR "theoretical sample" OR "discourse analysis" OR "focus group" OR “focus groups” OR "ethnological research" OR ethnomethodolog* or interview OR interviews OR “qualitative validity” OR qualitative OR diaries OR “participant observation” OR “non-participant observation” OR “descriptive research”
     

• PUBMED

  • Use Mesh subject heading = "Qualitative Research"

• CINAHL

  • option -  use this limiter if you want to make sure you capture more focused results:
    Search Options > Clinical Queries > Qualitative - High Specificity
     
  • option -  use this limiter if you want to make sure you capture a broader range of results:
    Search Options > Clinical Queries > Qualitative - High Sensitivity
     
  • option -  use this limiter if you want a balance between Sensitivity and Specificity:
    Search Options > Clinical Queries > Qualitative - Best Balance
     
  • option (RECOMMENDED) - copy and paste this text string into the search box to capture "high specificity" or more focused results
    • FIRST copy and paste the following text string into one search box:
      (TI “qualitative”) or (AB “qualitative”) or (AB phenomonol*) OR (AB “grounded theory”) or (AB “focus groups”) or (MH "Qualitative Studies+") or (MM "Interviews+") or (MH "Narratives")
    • THEN, select NOT from the drop-down options of the next search box and copy and paste this text string into that one box:
      (MH "Experimental Studies+") OR (MH "Nonexperimental Studies+") OR (MH "Quasi-Experimental Studies+") or (AB “randomized controlled”) or (AB “control group")