The process of conducting a literature search can be broken down into several key steps:
1. Define the Research Question: Clearly formulate the question that you aim to answer through your literature search. This can be framed using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) model.
2. Identify Keywords: Determine relevant keywords and phrases that are central to your research question. These keywords will be used to search databases for relevant literature.
3. Select Databases: Choose appropriate databases for your search. Common databases in nursing include PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.
4. Conduct the Search: Use your keywords to search the selected databases. Utilize advanced search techniques such as Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search results.
5. Evaluate the Results: Review the search results to identify studies that are relevant to your question. Assess the quality and relevance of each study.
6. Organize the Findings: Systematically organize the findings from your search, typically using reference management software, and synthesize the information to draw conclusions.
