What is a search strategy?

To prepare:

• Select one of the following disorders as your topic: dementia, delirium, or depression.
• Review the guidelines in the “Literature Review Matrix” document in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Think about a research question around your issue as indicated in Part I: PICO Analysis of Research Topic.
• Consider the resources you will use, search terms and criteria, and Boolean search strings as indicated in Part II: Search Strategy.
• Using the Walden Library and other appropriate databases, locate five articles related to your PICO question. At least one article must be a systematic review. All of the articles should be primary sources.
• Reflect on the five articles you selected as indicated in Part III: Analysis of Literature. Consider the conceptual framework/theory, main finding, research method, strengths of study, weaknesses, and level of evidence for each article.
• Consider how to use the summaries in Part III to create an evidence table. Use this evidence table to determine appropriate treatment options for patients who present with the disorder you selected as your topic.

To complete:

• Formulate a question around the disorder you selected as indicated in Part I: PICO Analysis of Research Topic.
• Identify the resources you will use, search terms and criteria, and Boolean search strings as indicated in Part II: Search Strategy.
• Summarize the five articles you selected as indicated in Part III: Analysis of Literature. Describe the conceptual framework/theory, main finding, research method, strengths of study, weaknesses, and level of evidence for each article.
• Create an evidence table based on the article summaries in Part III. Describe appropriate treatment options for patients based on this evidence table