Question

The best way to search for evidence-based guidelines in electronic databases is to do which of the following? A. Under Options, use the Publication Type or Type of Article limit B. In the search box enter both the topic and "guideline" C. In one search box enter the topic and in another enter in quotes the name of a professional association that might have produced a guideline on that topic, then combine the two searches D. Enter the topic in the search box, then sort through the citations retrieved to identify evidence-based guidelines

Answer 1

The most effective approach for searching evidence-based guidelines in electronic databases is option C. This method involves combining the topic with the name of a professional association that might have produced relevant guidelines.

1. Identifying the Topic: Start by entering the main topic of interest into one search box. This ensures that you are focusing on the specific area for which you are seeking evidence-based guidelines.

2. Using Professional Association Names: In another search box, enter the name of a relevant professional association within quotes. Professional associations often develop and publish guidelines based on the latest evidence in their respective fields. Including their name in the search helps narrow down the results to authoritative guidelines.

3. Combining Searches: Combining the two searches (topic and professional association) allows you to find guidelines that are directly related to your area of interest and have been endorsed or produced by reputable organizations.

4. Search Syntax Example: For instance, if you are searching for guidelines on diabetes management, one search box might contain "diabetes management," and another might contain "American Diabetes Association" in quotes.

5. Boolean Operators: If necessary, you can use Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine your search further. For example, you can combine the topic and association using "AND" to ensure that both aspects are considered in the search.

This method maximizes the chances of retrieving evidence-based guidelines produced by respected professional associations, providing you with reliable and authoritative information on the specified topic. It's a targeted approach that minimizes the need to sift through unrelated citations and increases the likelihood of finding high-quality, evidence-based guidance.

Answer 2

The best way to search for evidence-based guidelines in electronic databases is a combination of entering both the topic and "guideline", using the 'Publication Type' limit, and potentially including a professional association related to the topic. These strategies focus the search and improve the relevance of results.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best way to search for evidence-based guidelines in electronic databases is to use a combination of strategies. Option A suggests using the Publication Type or Type of Article limit, which may indeed refine the search to find professional guidelines. However, Option B, where you enter both the topic and "guideline", and Option C, which involves entering the topic in one search box and the name of a professional association in quotes in another, then combining the two searches, are both practical strategies. These methods can help in focusing the search and retrieving more relevant results. Option D, which consists of entering the topic in the search box and then sorting through the citations retrieved, is less efficient as it might return a vast number of results, including irrelevant ones.

It is essential to look for relevant scholarly articles and use academic databases that index articles from specialized scholarly journals for most accurate evidence-based guidelines. Reference librarians can provide valuable assistance in constructing effective searches and choosing the right keywords to yield a manageable number of relevant articles.