Search strategies for qualitative literature can differ slightly than quantitative literature. Below are suggested search terms (subject headings and keywords) for our three major health sciences databases. Please Ask DML with any research and/or searching questions.
Citations and abstracts to the biomedical literature, including the allied health fields and the biological and physical sciences, humanities, and information science as they relate to medicine and health care. Added functionality available with personal account. Good for foreground questions.
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings):
Publication Type Limits
Clinical Queries: Qualitative
These are preset, specific search strategies or "hedges" for limiting your search. Also available in CINAHL.
Developing optimal search strategies for detecting clinically relevant qualitative studies in MEDLINE..
Wong SS, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB; Hedges Team.
Stud Health Technol Inform. 2004;107(Pt 1):311-6.
CINAHL Headings
Publication Type Limits
Clinical Queries: Qualitative
These are preset, specific search strategies or "hedges" for limiting your search. The below options are found in the "Edit" screen or the Advanced Search screen. Also available in PubMed or Ovid MEDLINE.
Search strategies for identifying qualitative studies in CINAHL.
Wilczynski NL, Marks S, Haynes RB.
Qual Health Res. 2007 May;17(5):705-10.
Biomedical research and pharmacology citations and abstracts. Added functionality available with personal account.
Emtree (Subject Headings)
Study Types filters
Developing optimal search strategies for retrieving clinically relevant qualitative studies in EMBASE.
Walters LA, Wilczynski NL, Haynes RB; Hedges Team.
Qual Health Res. 2006 Jan;16(1):162-8.
Helpful to combine Subject Headings with Keywords: