Module 2: Question 1

My search was on “chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy”. I chose Pub Med as I have used it (far from its full potential) in the past. I intentionally chose a term which I knew would yield hundreds of results so that I could practice narrowing it down. The rudimentary search strategy described in the second paragraph of Poynton (2003) was the way I routinely carried out searches in the past. I would choose a term and try to make it as focused as I could, pull up a list, and then go through that massive list. The search tools found on Pub Med through the Captivate tutorial and on the Eccles site narrowed my search from hundreds to twenty. However, it was time consuming. If I were searching for something at work and had limited time, I might use a web search engine. Time is not the only barrier. With different auditory stimulus and interruptions (patients, staff, alarms), it would be difficult for me to conduct a search effectively at this level of computer and electronic index abilities. If I had no time restrictions and was conducting an exhaustive search on something very specific and needed reliable sources that were current and evidence based, I would use the electronic index. Prior to attacking the electronic index, however, I would plot out my search strategy (MeSH terms, subheadings, limits) as recommended by Poynton (2003). If I was able to compile the articles needed, I could quickly save them in Pub Med until I could retrieve them. In the end, I found that my search was focused to what I had intended however it took more time than I typically have in the workplace.