Library Resources for Nursing Graduate and PhD Students: Literature Reviews

Anatomy of a Literature Search

A. Construct an appropriate question

• Asking the right question is the primary key to creating a winning search. Your question must be answerable. If your question is too broad, your search will retrieve more information.
• Consider using the PICO concept to help you create a search strategy. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SHORT TUTORIAL ON DEVELOPING A PICO SEARCH STRATEGY)

Using PICOS to Ask Your Question

PICOS is an mnemonic for Patient Population or Problem, Intervention (treatment/test), Comparison (group or treatment), Outcomes, and Setting or Study type. PICOT is also used where the T stands for Time.

Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario:
THERAPY
In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________?

ETIOLOGY
Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with

Above information from "Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice" by Bernadette M. Melnyk and Ellen Fineout-Overholt. 2005, page 31.

B. Use the appropriate database(s)

The following are words you can include in your PICO Search Strategy for Literature Review.

• Review
• Review of Literature
• Literature Review
• Meta-Analysis
• Systematic Review