How to Conduct a Literature Review (Health Sciences): Database Search

Before starting your database search, think about terms that can be used to describe the key concepts in your research question.  Start your search with terms that you think make sense.  When you find citations that are highly relevant to your research, take a closer look at those records. For two types of terms you can search by SUBJECT HEADINGS or KEYWORDS.

• Subject Heading: A single, assigned term that stands for a concept. For example when searching in PubMed, any paper that discusses Epistaxis would be assigned the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) term nose bleed (bleeding from the nose).
• Keyword: A term used for a concept in everyday language. For example when searching or needing to find articles written about high blood pressure, the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) term Hypertension in PubMed may be too broad. Just searching high blood pressure OR high blood pressures by typing this directly into the search box might work better. 
• See example by clicking on link: Hypertension

Subject headings and keywords have advantages and disadvantages. Keywords can retrieve new articles that do not yet have subject headings assigned to them. You can also use keywords to capture alternate spellings. Subject headings, however, will help you find highly relevant articles.

It's best to conduct your search, consider whether it makes sense to use keywords, subject headings, or both.

Documenting your search can help you:

• Keep track of what you've done so you do not repeat searches
• Reuse successful search strategies
• Help describe your search process
• Justify your search process

What should I document?

Consider whether it makes sense for you to document during your search process:

• The database/resource used
• Search strategies for each resource; include the search terms, limits used, dates, etc.
• The date each search was conducted
• The number of results
• Notes on any journals that are searched individually

How can I document my search?

It is recommended that you document your search strategies using a tool with which you are familiar, such as desktop or web-based work processors or spreadsheet software.