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HA8160 - Intro to US Healthcare: Home - Let's Review!

Let's review the basics of database searches

  • Nature language doesn't work in database search!   
  • Use keywords with correct spelling.
  • Think of synonyms for keywords
  • Use Boolean connectors: AND OR NOT

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Search Tips

Boolean Connectors – Use the connectors OR and AND to broaden or narrow your search.

Narrow Search:  affordable health care act  AND birth control

Expand Search:  drugs OR pharmaceuticals

Nesting – Use parentheses and Boolean connectors to create sophisticated search strings.

(trade or export or import) AND multinational

Truncation – Use truncation symbol to look for multiple word endings (usually an asterisk *).

prescri* = prescription OR prescribed OR prescribe

Basic Search Tips

Examples of Boolean Connectors