Welcome!
This Tutorial
In this tutorial, you'll practice the following:
Underlined WordsClicking on an underlined word in this tutorial will give you a definition or an in-depth explanation.
How to NavigateUse the arrows below to navigate through the tutorial.
NoteLinks not working?- Try opening in a new tab or window. Switching to another browser or clearing your cache can clear things up.Email not working?- Using multiples has caused some trouble. Try using a single email address
Let's get started!
Getting Started
We'll use the Nursing 410 course guide to explore different types of articles.
The URL for the 410 course guide is: https://simmons.libguides.com/nurs410_online.
Bookmark it now!
Hover your mouse over the Types of Articles tab, and then click on Types of Review Articles.
Read through the Comparing Different Types of Review Articles, What is a Systematic Review?, and What is a Meta-Analysis? boxes.
Which type of review is considered the highest level of evidence?
Why are systematic reviews considered the gold standard of literature reviews?
There are two main ways to search for systematic reviews using the library's website.
The remainder of this tutorial will walk you through the two approaches.
If you're not on the Types of Review Articles page, hover your mouse over the Types of Articles tab, and then click on Types of Review Articles.
Scroll down to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews box in the course guide.
Read the information in the box to learn about Cochrane Reviews.
Click on the Cochrane Library with Systematic Reviews link in the course guide to open Cochrane.
If the database opens in a new window, click here to stay in the tutorial.
Note: The Cochrane database may not open in this window if you're on campus. If you get a blank screen after clicking on Cochrane, you'll need to open Cochrane in a new tab or window to continue (or try from off-campus).
Option 1: Browse Topics
1. In Cochrane, click on the Cochrane Reviews link in the purple bar (you may have to click menu to see the bar).
2. From the drop-down menu, that appears, click Browse Reviews.
3. From the list of topics, click Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
On the results page, look at the limiters on the left side. These will allow you to narrow your results.
4. Use the Date limiter to view reviews that have been published or updated within the last year.
5. At the bottom of the limiters, look at the topics that appear under Complementary & Alternative Medicine. Click Show More to see the full list. Choose any topic.
6. Click on one of the titles in the search results to open a review.
Copy and paste the title of a Cochrane Review that addresses complementary & alternative medicine.
Option 2: Search
1. In the search box in the top right corner of the screen, type diabetes and exercise. Hit enter or click the magnifying glass icon to search.
2. Use the "custom range" publication date limiter on the left side to select reviews published in the last 5 years.
Copy & paste the title of a review that addresses diabetes and exercise.
Click here to return to the 410 course guide.
Scroll down to the Finding Systematic Reviews in Other Databases box in the course guide.
Read the information in the box to learn about searching for systematic reviews outside of Cochrane.
Getting to CINAHL
Click on the CINAHL Complete link in the course guide to open CINAHL.
If the database opens in a new window, click here to stay in the tutorial. Adding Other Databases
In CINAHL, click the link above the first search box that says Searching: CINAHL Complete.
Check Academic Search Ultimate and Medline. Click Select.
You're now searching CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, and Medline simultaneously!
Using Keywords
Systematic reviews generally include the term systematic review in the title or abstract, in order to distinguish them from other types of studies.
As a result, you can find systematic reviews by adding systematic review to your search terms.
Try It!
Type diabetes into the top search box, hba1c into the second search box, and systematic review into the third search box.
Click Search.
Use the All Filters button at the top of the screen to open the Filters Panel.
Using the filters on the right side of the screen, limit your results to Source Types Academic Journals and adjust the Publication Date to a custom range within the last 3 years.
Find a systematic review that addresses diabetes and hba1c.
Critical Appraisal Tools
Some of your assignments will ask you to critique or appraise systematic reviews and other types of articles.
Critical appraisal tools are checklists that walk you through the evaluation process.
Click on the Critical Appraisal Tools tab.
The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and the Joanna Briggs Institute both offer critical appraisal tools for evaluating different kinds of articles, including systematic reviews.
Click on the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and Joanna Briggs Institute links in the guide to explore the critical appraisal tools.
Looking Ahead
Now you know enough about review articles to find and recognize different types of reviews.
You can return to this tutorial for a refresher at any time during the term.
There's no wrong way to search, so keep trying new keywords, filters, and databases. The more you explore, the better you'll get at finding what you need!
If you're confused or stuck at any point, contact the library! We're always here to help.
Certificate of Completion
If you need to submit a certificate of completion for your course, enter your name and email address on the next page.
Click the Print/Send email button. Your certificate will appear in a pop-up, and you will also receive an email entitled Certificate of Completion (check your spam folder if you don't receive the email).
The pop-up and email certificates are exactly the same, so it does not matter which one you save and submit.
There are several ways to save your certificate:
1. Take a screenshot of the pop-up certificate or the email certificate.
2. Copy & paste the text of the pop-up certificate or the email certificate into a Word document.
3. Save the email as a PDF.
If you have trouble uploading your certificate, please contact the library for help.
Please enter your name and email address to retrieve a copy of your completed quiz.
You can enter multiple email addresses separated by commas. If you are doing this for a class, you may need to enter your instructor's email address also.