Q. How do I search a database?

The following keyword search tips can be used to refine your search strategies in medical databases:

(Parentheses):

• Parentheses can be used to organize (or nest) your keywords into similar concepts by using "OR". Combine searches organized into parentheses with other organized concepts using "AND".
• Example: (counseling OR therapy OR modality OR intervention) AND (trauma OR PTSD)  

"Phrase Searching":

• Some databases (including search engines such as Google) enable you to search for concepts as a phrase.  Using quotation marks around search terms is the most common way to conduct phrase searches.
• Example: "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder"

Truncations: ( * - asterisk)

• Truncations can be used to broaden your search to include varying word endings or suffixes. 
• Example: trauma* = trauma or traumas or traumatic or traumatically, etc.

Wildcards: ( ? - question mark ) or ( # hash tag)

• Wildcards can be used to substitute a symbol for one letter of a word. These commands can be used for words spelled in different ways (i.e. American and British spelling).
• Example:  p?ediatric = paediatric or pediatric

Adjacency/Proximity: adj3 or N3 or W3

• Some databases enable you to search for terms and/or phrases with two or more words in relation (and close proximity) to one another. 
• Example: (teenagers adj3 post-trauma) will retrieve records containing "teenagers" within three words (either before or after) the term "post-trauma"

Note: Refer to the search tips or Help section of each database to see what search functions are available and what each symbol represents. Truncations, wildcards and proximities are usually entered differently depending on what resource you are searching. 

For keyword search tips in search engines like Google, read our FAQ on the topic.

Still not finding what you need? Request a training session to learn more about searching the medical literature, using specific databases, and/or managing your search results.