CSUN WordmarkOviatt Library

PT 506a: Evidence Based Physical Therapy Library Research Tips : Overview

Professor Witaya “Dan” Mathiyakom; Physical Therapy Librarian is Marcia Henry

The goals of the library sessions are:

  • Learn about How to do Library and Internet research: determine information need, choose best resources, develop a search strategy, understand keyword and subject searching, how to use boolean operators and truncation  symbols (often a *), how to cite sources, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Remember Professor Mathiyakom wants you answer the following questions:
  1. Perform a PubMed search for evidence about your clinical question.  You want to be sure to search for current (within 5 years) and highest level of evidence (i.e., Level 1) for intervention.  Please attach the first page of your search results.  (2 points)

 

  1. Answer the following questions about your PubMed Search:
    1. What are your initial term choices? Why? (2 points)

 

  1. Were your key words in the MeSH database? (1 point)

 

  1. If not, what keywords did you choose from the MeSH vocabulary instead? (1 point)

 

  1. What limits did you select? Why? (2 points)

 

  1. What were your search results?

 

  1. Number of hits? (1 point)

 

  1. Number of articles that looked promising based on their titles? (1 point)

 

  1. Assume that you found many promising articles (i.e., 20 articles), what search strategy changes did you need to make?  Why? (2 points)

 

  1. Assume that you found only a few promising articles, what search strategy changes did you need to make to get more articles?  Why?  (2 points)

 

  1. Try your search with one other database (e.g., PEDro) that you think would best help you answer the question.  Please attach the first page of your search results.  (2 points)

 

  • Learn about Cochrane Library (Wiley) - Several evidence based medical databases, with protocols, controlled trials, and full-text reviews. Access to full text pdf limited to 1 user at a time.
  • Learn how to get articles and books Oviatt Library does NOT own. Register for CSUN's Interlibrary Loan
  • Learn about Cited Reference Searching
  • Learn how to customize Google Scholar for CSUN Find Text and importing to Endnote Web
  • Learn more about how to Cite your resources and what Endnote Web, a bibliographer manager software program, can do for you. Sign up for Endnote Web at http://library.csun.edu/restricted/endnote.scr
    • Endnote Web is a Web-based reference management tool that allows you to create a personal database of up to 10,000 references by importing citations from online databases or you can also enter a new reference. You can organize references into folders, and create and format bibliographies using a wide choice of citation styles.
    • Extensive Help is available from Endnote web at http://www.myendnoteweb.com/help/en_us/ENW/help.htm
    • Oviatt library offers help at

      http://library.csun.edu/Find_Resources/Databases/i-endnoteweb.html

    • learn how to edit or create a new record
    • learn how to collect records by importing -always be aware that you should look over the information imported -you may need to correct or improve the record.
    • learn about using Endnote web with Microsoft word (this requires you install necessary plugins on your personal computer).
    • Endnote web technical support toll free number is 800-336-4474

    Several ways to input records into your Endnote Webendnote web import