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Exploring the Use of Common Strict Search Criteria in Nursing Literature Searches
Eleanor Shanklin Truex1, Emily Spinner, Jean Hillyer
1Medical Librarian (Ms Truex), Chicago Metro Region, Ascension-IL Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; Program Information Specialist (Ms Spinner), Ellis Medicine, Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, New York; Assistant Director of Nursing School Resource Center, Retired (Ms Hillyer), Baylor University, Dallas, Texas; Head of Resource, Sharing and Discovery (Ms Ettien), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; Medical Librarian (Ms Wade), Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Assistant Professor and Simulation Director (Dr Calhoun), Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing, Campbell University, Lillington, North Carolina; Instruction & Outreach Librarian (Ms Wolf), Carolina Community College, Sandford, North Carolina; Biology, Human & Movement Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, and Distance Learning Librarian (Ms Hedreen), Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven; Medical Librarian (Ms Heimlich), MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia; Assistant Professor & Information Services & Liaison Librarian (Ms Nickum), Library of the Health Sciences, and Clinical Assistant Professor (Dr Vonderheid), University of Illinois at Chicago; and Director of Nursing Research and Nurse Residency Program Coordinator (Interim) (Dr Vonderheid), University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago.
Background:
Health sciences librarians and nursing journal contributors have expressed concern about the impact of using strict parameters when searching the literature.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of strict search criteria (eg, 5-year rule, "nurse as author") by direct care nurses and nursing students.
Methods:
Fourteen online focus groups were conducted with 54 participants: direct care nurses, health sciences librarians, nursing faculty, and nursing students. Nursing faculty and health sciences librarians were included as participants to add perspective to the origins and effects of the use of stringent search criteria.
Results:
The majority of the nurses viewed the 5-year rule and nurse as author search limits favorably, while noting that a strict date range may hamper successful searching. Librarians viewed these search criteria more unfavorably but recognized the value of topic-appropriate search limits.
Conclusion:
Reliance on strict limits can be detrimental to pertinent results; however, appropriate use is essential for relevant results. Pedagogy focused on searching the nursing literature needs to emphasize that limits are tools to be used judiciously.
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