Get Started with CINAHL

Michelle Henley, MLSInstruction & Consultation Services

Class outline

• Intro to evidence based literature• Using CINAHL to find best evidence • Cases and exercises CINAHL• Other tools in CINAHL• Managing searches & results• Accessing full text articles

What is evidence-based lit?The evidence pyramid demonstrates types of clinical studies.  Best practice is to limit to those at the top of the pyramid -- systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials.

Source: SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Medical Research Library of Brooklyn. The Evidence pyramid. Accessed January 3, 2013 from http://library.downstate.edu/EBM2/2100.htm

Best evidence study types

Study type Description

Systematic Review Comprehensive, methodical literature review; summarizes findings from multiple studies

Meta-Analysis Combines findings from multiple studies using statistical methods

Randomized, Controlled Trial (RCT)

Blinded clinical trial with participants randomly assigned to different groups; best study type for therapy questions*

* Note that any question best answered by a RCT may also be answered by a systematic review or meta-analysis

What is CINAHL?

• Full text articles for over 770 journals in nursing, biomedicine, alternative medicine, consumer health & allied health disciplines

• Over 3 million citations dating back to 1937

• Includes evidence-based care summaries and patient handouts

How to access CINAHL @ SFGH

Basic search

keywords

keywords

limited by date, age group

publication date “slider”

Advanced search

Use AND to search multiple concepts, OR to search similar concepts

Advanced search: best evidence

check box for RCTs only

OR limit to publication type meta analysis,

systematic review, RCT

Guidelines search

Enter search terms, limit to publication type “practice guidelines”

Case example #1

A 55 yo woman presents to the ED complaining of chest pain, fatigue and weakness. She is diagnosed with heart failure and prescribed a diuretic. Based on the evidence, can diuretics effectively reduce her risk of death from heart failure?

• SEARCH STRATEGYheart failure AND diuretics

• LIMIT TO– last 5 years – meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, systematic review

Case example #2

A 35 yo man is admitted after a motorcycle accident. He is semi-conscious but having difficulties breathing on his own, so is placed on a ventilator. You are concerned about ventilator-associated pneumonia and want to know whether there are any guidelines for prevention.

• SEARCH STRATEGYventilator associated pneumonia

• LIMIT TO– last 5 years – practice guideline

Exercise #1

A 45 yo man is brought to the ED for acute alcohol withdrawal. He is prescribed benzos for withdrawal symptoms, including mild to moderate seizures. Is there any evidence that other therapies may be more effective for managing withdrawal related seizures?

For this exercise:

1. Run a search in CINAHL

2. Limit to best evidence for therapy questions

3. Select 1 result from the past 5 years

Exercise #2

A 5 yo boy with a family history of type 2 diabetes visits the clinic for immunizations. He appears healthy but ranks in the 85th percentile for weight. You are concerned he may develop diabetes and want to know if there are any guidelines for prevention in children his age.

For this exercise:

1. Run a search in CINAHL

2. Limit to practice guidelines for his age

3. Select 1 result from after 2008

Continuing education materialsCheck “CE module” box to limit to lit with CE activities

Evidence-Based Care SheetsSummaries on specific conditions, focused on nursing practice

Managing results and searches

View and save recent searches and results

Save this article to a “folder”

Folder for saved articles

Need more help?

• CINAHL Libguide

http://sfghdean.ucsf.libguides.com/cinahl

• CINAHL Help Sheets & User Guides

http://support.epnet.com/cinahl/documentation.php

Contact

Michelle HenleyBarnett-Briggs Medical LibrarySan Francisco General Hospital415-206-6638 or

michelle.henley@ucsf.edu