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Occupational Therapy: Search Limiters

Filtering Results with Limiters

Searching the literature to support evidence-based practice requires the use of filtering strategies, such as limiters.  A search strategy helps to systematically apply limits to database search results to sift through the profusion of published literature.

Limits to use:

  • Database limits may include choices for filtering Publication Types (case studies, editorials, news articles, as well as higher levels of evidence such as clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses). Limiting by publication type is one way to ensure that the research retrieved was based on a more rigorous methodology and thus reflects a higher level of evidence.
     
  • Date of publication limits can help reduce your set of results, particularly helpful when you have too many results, or you wish to retrieve only the most recent literature.
     
  • Age group: Using these limits ensures a standard approach to narrowing your search, (rather than using your own keywords such as "elderly" or "pediatric").
     
  • "Peer-reviewed articles," "research," "evidence-based," language, species,  and other subsets for topics may be available. Use with care, and be sure to read the description of what they mean, as they may inadvertently apply limits you don't want!

The instructions below depict beginning strategies for limiting by publication type (or methodology) in each selected database.

Limiting (filtering) strategies:

Limiting in CINAHL

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More limiting strategies in CINAHLPlus:

  • Limit to publication type: Systematic Review (indicates a research process in which a concept is identified and the research which has studied it is analyzed and evaluated. Results are synthesized to present the current state of knowledge regarding the concept. Includes integrated or integrative reviews).
  • Browse the many Publication types; notice the range from case study or letter (lower levels of evidence) to Systematic Reviews and Clinical Trials (higher levels of evidence).
  • Using the CINAHL “Evidence-based Practice” limiter includes “Research” articles (including systematic reviews, clinical trials, meta analyses, etc.)  as well as articles from evidence-based practice journals, articles about evidence-based practice, and commentaries on research studies (applying practice to research). Use with caution; every result may not be an evidence-based study. More about the evidence-based practice limiter.
  • Advanced Searches: 
    • Limit using Clinical Queries filter in five research areas:  Therapy, Prognosis, Review, Qualitative, Causation (Etiology)
    • High Sensitivity is the broadest search, to include ALL relevant material. It may also include less relevant materials.
    • High Specificity is the most targeted search to include only the most relevant result set, may miss some relevant materials.
    • Best Balance retrieves the best balance between Sensitivity and Specificity.

    –A detailed explanation of the strategies behind these limits can be found at http://hiru.mcmaster.ca/hiru/HIRU_Hedges_home.aspx

 

Using Popular Filters in Medline

Unlike CINAHL, Medline does not have a publication type that simply says “Research,” and it does not have a filter for "peer-reviewed," but you may filter your results for higher levels of evidence by limiting to Article type, for example,
“clinical trial or meta-analysis or randomized controlled trial.”

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Additional research methodology filters are available in PubMed.

Clinical Queries or Topic-Specific Queries apply preformulated search strategies to topics for clinicians and health services researchers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limiting by Study Type Using MeSH terms in PubMed:

If  the popular Filters described above do not include your "study type," try a search using PubMed MeSH terms available for study methodologies:

More about PubMed Filters:

*PubMed Clinical Queries display citations filtered to a specific clinical study category and scope. (Pubmed equivalents)

*PubMed Special Queries provide preformulated interfaces for:

Limiting to scholarly articles (including "peer-reviewed") in Proquest Central

Check the Limit boxes as shown to search only scholarly journals or peer-reviewed journals. Leave the box empty to include other sources in your search.

A publication is considered to be Scholarly if it is published for an academic audience by a recognized society with academic goals and missions.

A publication is considered to be Peer-reviewed if it has been assessed by other scholars in the same field for quality of scholarship, relevance to the field, and appropriateness for the journal.  Most (but not all) scholarly publications are peer reviewed. Some trade publications and magazine are also peer reviewed.

"Peer Reviewed" Articles

"Peer reviewed"  (or "refereed" journals) are those that subject content to a critical review by other experts in the field prior to accepting a manuscript for publication. Thus, limiting your literature search to the peer-reviewed journals ensures a higher level of scholarship and research methodology.  Magazines, trade journals, and newspapers tend to be "non-peer-reviewed," meaning perhaps just the editor or someone who is not an expert in the field has reviewed the content before publishing.  How do you know if a journal citation is from a peer-reviewed journal?