Here’s how you can search smarter and better, using the pesky, but ever helpful, four steps of the nursing process — assess, plan, implement, and evaluate.

Assess — What Do You Want to Know?

Not all research projects are efficiently conducted on the Internet. Before you head online, ask yourself, is this information likely to be on the Internet? Sometimes the information is available through traditional channels, such as libraries, pharmacies, medical bookstores, or even your bookshelf!

If you decide on the Internet option, precisely define what you’re looking for by asking the following questions:

• What is the purpose (e.g., need the information for a speech vs. for a friend or relative) of the information that you seek? When answering this question, consider whether you need a basic overview or detailed, complete information on a topic.
• What type of information are you looking for — factual, textbook, standard of care, or statistics? Take arthritis as an example: do you need drug information, names of specialists, or general treatment information?

Plan — What is Your Search Strategy?

Think of an organization that may provide the information you seek; you may find what you need quickly and for free. For example, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing www.ncsbn.org provides information regarding state board nurse practice acts and regulations.

The Internet contains no central indexing system. Search tools (computer programs) perform the searches. The way in which the tool requests and retrieves information from its website is called a search method. There are basically four online search methods:

• Directory, topic, or subject search (e.g., www.netmed.com). This method uses a hierarchical search beginning with a general subject heading followed by a succession of specific subheadings to choose from.
• Search engine or keyword(s) search (e.g., www.intelihealth.com). This method searches a database using keyword(s). Automated systems index website content. A queried response would be a list of references or “hits.”
• Directory and search engine (e.g., www.healthcentral.com). This uses subject and keyword search methods. When both methods are used simultaneously, it is called a coordinated search.
• Multiengine search (e.g., www.hon.ch/HONselect/). Also called a meta-search, this method has the ability to search a number of databases at one time or consecutively. It is an efficient way to search, especially if your topic is quite narrow.

When formulating a search strategy, consider the following steps:

Step 1. Write your question out in a complete sentence.

For example —

• What types of herbs are used to treat insomnia?

Remember that spelling can make a difference in your search results. Use a medical dictionary if you are unsure of the correct spelling.

Step 2. Select the main ideas, key words, and/or concepts.

For example —

• insomnia, herbs, and treatment

Step 3. Make a list of synonyms for each concept.

For example —

• Insomnia = sleep disorder, sleeplessness, wakefulness
• Herbs = herbal, herb, dietary supplement, natural
• Treatment = alternative, prescription, approach, practice, remedy, medicine.

Step 4. Combine the terms as needed.

For example —

• sleep disorder and herbal remedies
• insomnia with alternative treatment
• sleeplessness and herbs
• insomnia and alternative medicine
• herbs or dietary supplements

Start your search using broad terms. This allows you to observe what is available and gives you choices to narrow down to specifics. Another option is to search by index rather than keyword(s), which will help you to narrow your search and reduce the chances of thousands of hits.

Additionally, if the search engine has a help section, visit it. Use the help section to get the most out of your research. Not all search engines search in the same way and many offer search tips specific to the site. Most websites have a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) area, which is similar to a help section.

Implement — What Search Tool Should You Use?

Using the appropriate search tool is key to conducting an effective search. Consider your online database search options/sources before heading online. When searching medical databases, MEDLINE® www.nlm.nih.gov is considered the most complete database of medical literature available. It is produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and is a searchable index of medical journals worldwide. There are more than 11 million references and abstracts in the MEDLINE database. However, MEDLINE does not include the full text of articles although database service providers usually offer full-text document retrieval and delivery for a fee.

The National Library of Medicine offers two systems to search MEDLINE: PubMed and Internet Grateful Med. With PubMed, you search about 400 journals for full text information. Internet Grateful Med provides access to other NLM databases (AIDS, bioethics, history of medicine, toxicology, health services research, and other topics). For a long list of links to websites where you can search MEDLINE for free, go to www.docnet.org.uk/drfelix.

You can also connect to MEDLINE by visiting the Resources section of Nursing WebSearch www.nursingwebsearch.com. While there, you may want to check out other departments of this search engine, which is designed to help users find nurse-specific information online.

Evaluate — How Good Are Your Results?

Evaluate your results list before you decide what to pursue. Consider the following in your evaluation process:

• There still is little regulation of what is published on the Internet.
• Much of what is on the Internet has not been checked for accuracy.
• Some sites are funded purely by advertisements; check sponsorship.
• What are the writer’s qualifications for authorship?
• Links to other sites are not always validated for quality by the host site. There should always be contact information and/or a link (e-mail, phone number, address) to the host site or webmaster.
• The purpose/mission/goal of the website should be clearly stated.
• Look for a statement of adherence to quality standards or principles such as the international Health On the Net Foundation Principles www.hon.ch or AMA principles www.ama-assn.org.
• Are there dates on the page to indicate when the material was written, when it was first placed on the web, and when it was last revised?

For additional tips, visit this site on Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources: www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/ college/instruct/web/critical.htm.

The most trustworthy websites are maintained by well-respected health organizations, libraries, universities, government agencies, established nursing publications, or major medical centers. Other sites may offer helpful information as well, but the vested interests of the person or organization must be considered.

Now you’re ready to jump online and grab for the information you need on the Internet. If you follow these tips and suggestions, you won’t come up empty-handed.