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INFORMATION SKILLS FOR MEDICINE 1, 2005

You are here: Contents >> Using and searching bibliographical databases >> Major medical and health related databases >> Successful database searching

Section 4b: Successful database searching

Before searching a database you need to do some preparation. You will need to think in some detail about what you are actually searching for, for example:

  • what terms can be used to describe the subject?
  • are there differences in spelling or terminology for the subject you are looking up?
  • how do you combine the keywords together to get what you want?
  • are there any limits you wish to apply?
  • how you would use this preparation to plan a literature search?


    • On the following pages we will look at these things by examining:

  • keywords and controlled vocabulary
  • synonyms, combining and limiting searches
  • search plans.

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