Evidence Based Medical Literature Search in Databases

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Using PICO (T) as a guide to find medical literature in databases in Nursing and Allied Health Professions

What is PICO (T)? 

PICO (T) is an instrument used in medical and health research to help researchers formulate a question to get evidence based results.

Using PICO (T) format as a tool where applicable can help to base question to begin the literature search.

 

P = Patient, Population, and/or Problem

I = Intervention

C = Comparison

O = Outcome

T = Type of Study or concept of time

 

 

  • Plan a search strategy by identifying major elements of the question to subject terms such as MeSH, Keywords
  • After viewing the initial search results, one can narrow the search for the Comparison, Outcome, Time factors or Type of study

Example:  Does sleep hygiene among healthcare workers increase productivity at work?

 

Frame the question to include PICO (T) elements

 

Frame Natural Language
P (Problem or Patient or Population) Sleep deprivation, healthcare workers
I (intervention) Sleep, rest
C (comparison) Long shift, Not sleeping, stress
O (outcome) productivity

 

 

Key terms in the question  Database Terms –  MeSH*/ Keywords
 P (Problem/Patient/Population)  = Sleep deprivation, healthcare workers Sleep deprivation, insufficient sleep, Health personnel [MeSH]

sleep deprivation [CINAHL]
 I (intervention/indicator)= Sleeping 8 hours,

rest

 

 Sleep hygiene [MeSH]

Sleep hygiene [CINAHL]
 C (comparison)  Standards, Education [ MeSH, CINAHL]
 O (outcome)  Efficiency [ MeSH, CINAHL]

*Medical Subject Heading in PubMed/Medline

 

Useful Links for PICO/Evidence Based searches:

 

http://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/nlmd/pico/piconew.php

http://learntech.physiol.ox.ac.uk/cochrane_tutorial/cochlibd0e84.php

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2127107/pdf/9251552.pdf

Post submitted by Mangala Krishnamurthy

Highlight of 2015

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Great fun was had by all at Rodgers Library’s 25th anniversary celebration in October.  Professor Alan Lane entertained our guests.  Thanks, Alan.

 

 

Photo By Layton Dudley

Alan Lane, a chemical engineering professor, becomes Doobie “Doghouse” Wilson, when he plays his blues and folk music in clubs around the area. CW | Layton Dudley

Rodgers Library Workshops Set for Spring 2016

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Date Time Workshop Instructor
Jan 28 2:00 PM Creating Scientific Graphs in QtiPlot and Basic Graphic Skills for Scientists and Engineers Vincent F. Scalfani
Feb 2 3:00 PM Effective Scientific Presentations Arian Abdulla
Feb 11 2:00 PM Introduction to Adobe Muse Website Design Vincent F. Scalfani
Feb 16 3:00PM Managing your References with EndNote Arian Abdulla
Feb 18 2:00 PM Introduction to Matlab Vincent F. Scalfani
Feb 23 3:00PM PubMed Search Arian Abdulla
Feb 25 2:00 PM 3D Design in Google SketchUp Vincent F. Scalfani
Mar 1 3:00PM Science and Engineering Online Presence Arian Abdulla
Mar 3 2:00 PM Introduction to Matlab Vincent F. Scalfani
Mar 22 3:00PM CVs vs Resumes Arian Abdulla
Mar 24 2:00 PM Chemical Information Resources Vincent F. Scalfani
Mar 29 3:00 PM Working with Google Docs Arian Abdulla
Mar 31 2:00 PM Endnote Reference Management Software Vincent F. Scalfani
Apr 5 3:00PM Web of Science Primary Literature Search Arian Abdulla
Apr 7 2:00 PM Locating and Discovering Science and Engineering Patents Vincent F. Scalfani
Apr 10 3:00PM MathSciNet Arian Abdulla
Apr 19 2:00 PM Searching for Chemical Property Data and Spectra Vincent F. Scalfani
Apr 21 2:00 PM Searching for Inorganic and Organometallic Substances in SciFinder and Reaxys Vincent F. Scalfani
Apr 26 3:00PM Creating Scientific Figures in Excel Arian Abdulla
Apr 28 2:00 PM Searching for Polymers in SciFinder and Reaxys Vincent F. Scalfani

 

Latest on Standards

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Standards are a basic tool of scientists and engineers. At Rodgers Library we use SAI Global to find and order individual standards. SAI Global covers standards from many standards organizations, such as ASME and SAE.  Our approach is to order most standards on demand.  However, since ASTM standards are in high demand, we recently subscribed to ASTM Compass.  In the case of SAI Global users can easily search the database, but the library takes care of the download piece.  ASTM Compass is handled differently.  It is delivered to desktops and users can search and download independently.

Chromebooks Here

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Rodgers Library is now circulating Dell Chromebooks. Chromebooks are laptops that run the Chrome operating system. Chromebooks boot quickly and automatically connect to the University’s wireless network. The Chrome browser loads, and apps such as Word and Powerpoint can be opened as tabs in the browser. Documents can be saved in the cloud or onto a flash drive. Users can sign into the Chromebooks with a guest account, myBama account, or personal Google account (e.g., an account at crimson.ua.edu or gmail.com). Come by Rodgers Library first floor Circulation Desk to check one out.

This post was originally posted by Karen Chapman on Bruno Library blog.

Meet your Science and Engineering Librarian

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Rodgers Library has a librarian assigned to each academic department in the Sciences and Engineering, as well as the Capstone College of Nursing. The Liaison librarian facilitates communication between the teaching faculty and the library, as well as helps students, faculty and instructors with research or library instruction needs.  Meet your Science and Engineering Librarian here: http://guides.lib.ua.edu/sciences

About Rodgers Library

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Rodgers Library is a world-class library.  Rich and diverse collections cover all the sciences, engineering, and nursing.  The library’s major goal is to connect students and faculty with state-of-the-art research done by the world’s leading scholars.   Using sophisticated databases and a broad range of electronic resources, delivered over the Internet, the library is ready to help beginners and sophisticated researchers.  Many users access the library’s resources by computer from remote locations on Campus and from home.  Others visit the library at its physical location near Shelby Hall, at the northeast corner of the Campus.  Enjoy Rodgers Library!

Tip 13: 3D Printing

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Tip 13:  3D Printing.  About three years ago we opened a 3D Printing Studio in Rodgers Library.  Services offered include: 3D printing, 3D scanning, training workshops, and do it yourself 3D printing.  Supporting 3D design and conversion software is installed on the workstations within the 3D Studio. The 3D printers are capable of creating a multitude of 3D plastic objects.

GO to Rodgers 3-D printing.

Go to College of Engineering 3-D printing.

Tip 12: Course Reserves

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Tip 12:  Course Reserves.    Many faculty use extra materials to enhance   instruction in the classroom.  In the library, we refer to these materials as course reserves.  Commonly faculty put books from the Rodgers Library collection or personal copies of books on reserve.  Other materials may be appropriate too.  If the content you want to use is in digital format it is probably more convenient to link digital content in your class syllabus or Blackboard Learn.  Learn more about how we handle course reserves.

Go to Course Reserves.

Tip 11: Library Polices

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Tip 11:  Library Polices.   Like any large organization the UA Libraries has a set of policies that govern library use.  Policies provide guidance and even answer specific questions.  A few examples:  For how long can faculty check out a book? How does the Library Annex operate?  How do I donate books to the library?  How does interlibrary loan service work?  What does the Code of Conduct say to users?  What is acceptable use of computing resources?

Go to Polices.

Tip 10 Libraries’ Catalog (also known as Classic Catalog)

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Tip 10  Libraries’ Catalog (also known as Classic Catalog). Before Scout came along, faculty consulted Classic Catalog to find books and journals in the UA Libraries.  Classic Catalog is still a useful tool.  In particular, Classic Catalog offers a convenient way to find out what journals are in the UA Libraries, both the archival print journals and the newer electronic journals. Note, Classic Catalog is not used to find specific articles.

Go to Classic Catalog.

Tip 9: Research Guides

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Tip 9:   Research Guides.  We have developed a series of simple and convenient guides to get faculty and students started when first using the library.  They’re called LibGuides.   Each guide is built to acquaint you with library resources which are available to support your work.  We have a guide for every major subject area:  geology, nursing, civil engineering, etc.   The guides cover ways to find books, list important databases, identify research tools, and point to key Internet resources.

Go to LibGuides.

Tip 8: Instruction

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Tip 8:  Instruction.  Rodgers Library likes to share information about its services and collections and further help users achieve information competencies.  We can prepare custom lectures or workshops focused on any topic of interest.  If you choose, a librarian can come to one of your departmental meetings or a class which you teach to do a presentation.  In addition, we often conduct instruction inside Rodgers Library on high-interest topics.  If you have a request, please contact us or submit a request using this form.

Go to Instruction Request.

Tip 7: Print Books & E-books

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Tip 7:  Print Books & E-books.  Rodgers Library has a substantial assortment of print books and e-books.  Since about 2010, we’ve acquired e-books only, unless a faculty member specifically requests a print edition of a particular title.   Our print books are on the 2nd floor of the library and for older and less used print titles in the Annex.   For 2015 we will get all Wiley and Springer e-books, as well as titles from other publishers, such as ACS.   Scout is an excellent tool for finding books. In Scout, execute a word search.  In step 2, under the heading “Refine Results,” in the left-hand column, choose Source Types and then limit search results to just “Books.”

Go to print and e-books search.

Tip 6: E-Journals and Print Journals.

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Tip 6:  E-Journals and Print Journals.  There are multiple pathways to finding journals at Rodgers Library.  For a quick search for a specific e-journal, our e-journals page does the job. Remember that some older journals are still in print format only.  To get complete results of Rodger Library journal holdings, both print journals and e-journals, do a look-up in Classic Catalog.

Go to Classic Catalog

Tip 5: Academic Software.

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Tip 5:  Academic Software.  Software plays a central role in learning and research.  As such Rodgers Library offers both productivity and special software loaded on desktop computers.  Examples include Adobe Creative Cloud, MATLAB, SAS, and Microsoft Project.

Go to academic software.

Rodgers Library @25 Anniversary

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RODGERS LIBRARY FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Join the Celebration

Rodgers Library 25th anniversary celebration is this Thursday, October 15, 2015.  Rodgers Library will celebrate 25 years of service. In 1990, the all new Rodgers Library opened. The facility is a merger of two separate libraries, one for engineering (in H.M. Comer Hall) one for science (in Lloyd Hall). Much has happened over the past 25 years. Learn about our progress. Please come and celebrate with us. Location: Rodgers Library.

Program:

• 1:30 pm: music by professor Alan Lane (Chemical and Biological Engineering Department)
• 2:00 pm: brief remarks by Kevin Whitaker, Interim UA Provost
• Exhibits showing Rodgers timeline and progress
• Refreshments for all
• Giveaways

Tip 4: InterLibrary loan.

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Tip 4:  InterLibrary loan.    Over the years Rodgers Library has acquired thousands of books and journals.  But the literature is way too large for us to own or license everything that you may want. Fortunately the UA Libraries is a member of a national network of libraries and participates in RapidILL.  So we can get what you need.  If a book or a journal article not available from the UA Libraries, use ILLiad to make a request.  If a book, it will be sent to us by a lending library and be available for you to pick up at the Circulation Desk in Gorgas Library when it arrives.  If you request an article, the article will be scanned by the lending organization and sent to your ILLiad account. Some articles arrive in 24 hours.

Go to InterLibrary loan.

Tip 3: Databases

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Tip 3:  Databases.    Databases offer a great way to find information on specific subjects.  It’s often good advice to start a search using a database that matches with a particular discipline, such as the IEEE Digital Library (electrical engineering) or BIOSIS Previews (biology), for example.  General purpose science databases such as the Web of Science or Scopus are great too.  Each database has its own special interface.  While searching a database, you can “click through” to full-text content when available.

Go to full list of databases.