What is Truncation in Nursing?
Truncation is a search technique used in various databases and search engines to find multiple forms of a word stem. In the context of
nursing, it helps researchers, students, and professionals locate a broader range of articles, studies, or documents that are relevant to their specific
topic. By using a truncation symbol, typically an asterisk (*), at the end of the root of a word, you can search for all possible endings. For example, searching for "nurs*" will retrieve results for "nurse," "nurses," "nursing," and "nursed."
How Does Truncation Benefit Nursing Research?
Truncation can significantly enhance the efficiency and comprehensiveness of your
literature search. It allows you to gather a wide range of relevant studies and articles without having to manually enter each possible form of a word. This is particularly useful in
systematic reviews and evidence-based practice, where thoroughness is crucial. It saves time and ensures that important variations of keywords are not missed.
What are Wildcards in Nursing Searches?
Wildcards are symbols used to replace one or more characters within a word to account for variations in spelling or to include multiple words within a search. Common wildcard symbols include the question mark (?) and the pound sign . In nursing, these can be particularly useful for finding articles where words may have different spellings or forms. For example, searching for "wom?n" will retrieve results for both "woman" and "women."
Why Use Wildcards in Nursing?
Using wildcards can help address regional spelling differences, such as between American and British English, and can also capture various forms of a word, which is crucial for comprehensive data gathering. For instance, a search for "p?ediatrics" will return both "pediatrics" and "paediatrics," ensuring no relevant studies are overlooked due to spelling variations.
Examples of Truncation and Wildcards in Nursing Searches
Here are some practical examples of how truncation and wildcards can be used in nursing: To find studies on different forms of nursing care, you might use "nurs* care". This will return results for "nurse care," "nurses care," and "nursing care."
To locate articles on women’s health, using "wom?n’s health" will bring up articles concerning both "woman’s health" and "women’s health."
Searching for "child* development" will retrieve articles on "child development," "children's development," and "childhood development."
Limitations of Truncation and Wildcards
While truncation and wildcards are powerful tools, they also have limitations. Over-truncation can lead to an overwhelming number of irrelevant results. For example, searching for "med*" might return "medicine," "medical," "meditation," and "medium." It's essential to find a balance to ensure the search remains specific enough to be useful. Additionally, not all databases support truncation and wildcard symbols, so it’s important to be familiar with the functionality of the specific database you are using.Conclusion
Truncation and wildcards are invaluable tools for
nursing research. They enhance search efficiency, ensure comprehensiveness, and accommodate variations in spelling and word forms. However, they should be used judiciously to avoid an overload of irrelevant results. By mastering these techniques, nursing professionals can significantly improve the quality and scope of their research.
