If you are having trouble finding information about a topic or finding irrelevant information, try looking for subject terms to use.
In PubMed use MESH terms From the PubMed home page, click the drop down arrow to the right of Pubmed and choose MESH from the list. Enter the term you need and click Search. If several choices are listed, view the definitions below each term to decide which to use and then use the listed term to search.
You can also go to the MESH database with this direct url-- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh)
In CINAHL use CINAHL Headings (in the blue toolbar above the search boxes) to browse CINAHL subject headings. Enter the term you have and Click browse to see if a subject heading exists for that term. If the term you entered is a subject heading, it will appear as a hyperlink in the list. If it is not a subject heading but related to one, you will see a message to use XXXX for xxxx (the term you entered). Change your search to--your original term OR the subject heading.
