Keyword searching can be defined as using words that you think authors would have used writing about your topic. For some databases and point of care tools keyword searching is the only search option. This section describes ways to enhance keyword searching for better search results.
Truncation: Allows you to find all terms that begin with a given text string. When using truncation in PubMed, the asterisk (*) sign is the truncation representation. For Ovid users use either the question mark (?) or the asterisk (*) sign.
Example: diagnos*
Words retrieved might be diagnosis, diagnose, diagnostic, diagnostics
Synonyms: Using words that authors might have used discussing a topic.
Example: computer assisted instruction OR computer tutorials
Use OR between each term so that either word choice will be present in the selected article(s).
Phrase: Searching with quotation marks. Usually automatic term mapping will be turned off so your search retrieval will be the exact wording entered into the search box.
Example: “kidney allograft”
