Although the content and search strategies the two of you use will be similar,
your resulting searches and appearance of the screens will be very different.
Another cause of confusion for users and librarians alike is that content may
change in a database. These changes are caused by interactions among vendors
and journal publishers who provide the articles. Sources available in full text
one day may be found in a citation-only option the next. When this happens,
it may not be the result of errors made while searching. Talking to a librarian
may resolve the situation and result in obtaining the information desired.Topic and Subject Matter
Information about scholarly literature of disciplines is collected and indexed
in subject-specific databases, such as CINAHL. Not much, if any, popular-
content works are contained in these databases. Additionally, information
about works yet to be published, called grey literature, includes unpublished
reports, conference papers, and grant proposals. Grey literature is often indica-
tive of upcoming hot topics in the field. Databases can also cite professional
information, such as organizational guidelines, editorial essays, and letters to
the editor. For example, commentaries on author works that have generated
controversy can be useful sources.
General content databases offer a mix of scholarly, trade, and popular works.
Professional journals, popular magazines, newspapers, and industry bulletins
may all be part of the search results (unless you limit the search accordingly).
These databases are helpful for gathering information on current news events,
government reports, and healthcare topics from the consumer point of view.
Databases also contain citations useful to patient education. In the health-
care literature, distinctions are made between consumer health materials and
patient education materials. Consumer health materials are general articles
about topics such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Patient education materials
are items designed to assist patients in making informed decisions regarding
their medical care. Nurses are often asked to decipher what patients hear in
the news and to refer consumers to additional, reliable information sources.Format
In print and electronic information sources, the basic building block is called a
record. Each piece of information contained in the record has been entered into
what is referred to as a search field, which makes electronic searching possible.
Each record minimally consists of a citation of information and a record number.
Citations provide author name, title, publication date, and, depending on the
type of item, publisher information and page numbers. Citations are the minimal
amount of information needed to locate items, and they contain informationKEY TERMS
grey literature:
Unpublished
reports, conference
papers, and grant
proposals
record: Basic
building block in an
electronic or print
database
search field:
Where each piece
of information
contained in the
record is entered108 CHAPTER 4 Finding Sources of Evidence