Conducting a Cinahl search
For more examples and a live demonstration, watch this learning video.
Choosing and accessing a database
1. Go to the University of Sydney Library homepage http://www.library.usyd.edu.au.
2. Choose Databases - Subject lists - Nursing and Midwifery
3. Choose Cinahl (Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health).
Or go to http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/databases/nursing.html
Click on the Cinahl link (Please note: If you are off-campus you will need to enter your UniKey details to access the database).
Advanced Search
The Advanced Search tab in Cinahl is the most effective and precise way to search.
Search each keyword (subject heading) separately
To use the Advanced Search you need to enter and search for one concept (or subject) at a time
Map term to subject headings
The 'Map to Subject Heading' option helps the database find the subject in the thesaurus (i.e. the controlled vocabulary of the database). The mapping feature lists the best matching subject headings for your search term.
Example search
In this example, your search for ' type 2 diabetes mellitus' will map to the best subject heading within the thesaurus, ie ' Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent':
Select the subject heading by ticking the Select box, click Include All Headings and click Continue.
Please note: the Auto Explode option has been selected automatically. This is an important feature of the database. It allows you to retrieve the broadest set of relevant results by including more specific terms related to the subject heading.
Combine Searches
Once you have searched for each of your concepts (or subjects) separately, you can combine the results to find articles which address ALL of your concepts.
Select the searches you want to combine, and select AND.
Limit Search
Limits can be applied to your results, either during or after your search. Example limits; Research, English language only, Abstracts, or Publication Year/s. Click on Additional Limits for more options.
The Research limit can be particularly useful as it will restrict your results to research studies containing data collection, methodology, discussion of results and so on.
You can choose more than one limit e.g. English and Research and Publication Years 1995 - 2009.
If limits are applied after a search, they will apply to the most recent search only.
Check search results
Go through the results and view the abstracts of articles you are interested in by clicking on View Abstract of individual articles, or View all abstracts to see them all under each reference.
To select articles, tick the check box to the left of records of interest for downloading or emailing or exporting to reference management software such as Endnote.
IMPORTANT: To access more subject headings click on Complete Reference of an article.
Accessing the full text of an article
If an article has a link marked Full Text, or Ovid Full Text, as shown below, full text access to the article is normally available. Selecting Library Holdings will link you to any full text available via the library catalogue.
Results ManagerUse the Results Manager toolbar on the side to e-mail, print, save or export your results to EndNote. For example: Results - select Selected Results or All in this set. Fields - select Complete Reference. Result Format - select Reprint/Medlars so you can import citations into EndNote if necessary. IMPORTANT: Always include the search history for retrieval purposes. Actions (scroll back to the top of the sidebar)Your search output can be transmitted in a number of ways.
For more information about how to search, you can:
For information about the CINAHL organisation:
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