CINAHL Tips

This tips page will help guide you in the transition. If you need additional assistance, feel free to contact the HS/HSL through Ask Us! or by calling 410.706.7996.

Tips by topic:

When you open CINAHL from the HS/HSL databases list, you will automatically be sent to the 'Advanced Search' tab. This is what you will see:

The 'Advanced Search' allows you to simply enter your search concepts and press 'Search' OR to be very particular about what you want. For example, you can choose specific fields from the drop-down list (such as title and author), or take advantage of the multiple search boxes for Boolean searching (and, or, not). The default type of search is 'Keyword,' but by using the green bar above the search box you can choose other ways to search the content within CINAHL such as browse specific publications and search using CINAHL subject headings.

Using 'Select a Field,' you can search for a particular word in the title, abstract, author's name, table of contents, subject headings, or any one of the other options you see. If you do not choose an option and leave the drop-down on 'Select a Field' the default search is title, abstract, author, and subject headings.

To select a field, highlight it in the menu to the right of each search box.

To get to the subject headings search, click on the 'CINAHL Headings' link in the green bar above the search box (near the top of the screen).

You will see a search box and options for type of search. The default is 'relevancy ranked' search. Leave it selected unless you are feeling adventurous!

Once you've pressed 'Search' you will see terms that closely match the keyword you entered. Check the box next to the term(s) you want, then add them to your search by clicking on the 'Add' button. You may also choose to select 'Explode.' This will prompt the database to search for your term as well as any terms more specific than it. Selecting 'Major Concept' will tell the database that you are only interested in articles that go in depth on your topic(s). Note: If you do not see a check box for explode, it means there is nothing more specific for that particular term.

If you click on one of the hyperlinked headings, the subsequent screen shows you terms that are more general or more specific than the one you've selected.

The 'Refine Search' tab (located just below the search boxes) gives you a menu of options to help narrow or expand your search.

There are two options for expanding your search. You can ask the database to search for your keywords within the full text (as available) of articles, and/or to look for related words. According to the help pages, related words are synonyms and plurals of your keywords.

CINAHL has more than 50 journals available with full text articles. From within CINAHL we also link you to many more full text articles using the 'find it' button. This means you have a good chance of finding the complete article you need, not just the citation.

When you perform a search in CINAHL you will receive a results list. Each record in the list will show brief citation information such as the title, author, and source.

Clicking on the title of any one of the results will take you to a screen with more detailed information including an abstract if available. From this screen you can click 'Add' to send items to your folder or print and save them individually if you wish.

If the article is available in full text, you will see a link below the main citation information in the results page. Most full text articles are available in HTML and/or PDF format. These are marked 'Linked Full Text.' Click on the full text link to open the the article. If you opened the detailed record for an article that is available in full text, you will see the full text link at the top of the screen.

Note: If you do not see the above links to full text, look for the button. We likely have the full text linked from the find it screen.

In order to 'Add' items to the folder, click on the 'Add' icon next to a desired item in your results list. Items placed in the folder are temporary, and will be lost if you log out of EBSCOhost, or if your session times out. Once added, the text under the folder icon will change from 'Add' to 'Added' to indicate it has been added to the temporary folder.

The status of your folder is noted above the results list on the right side of your screen. You can view the contents of your folder by clicking on the 'Folder has items' link. The easiest way to save, print, or email articles is to first add them to your folder.

Using My EBSCOhost, you can save a permanent search in CINAHL. This is particularly useful if you are working on a topic over a long period of time. Also, if you've spent a lot of time figuring out the perfect search strategy, you won't have to recreate it every time you want to see new results. Creating a My EBSCOhost account provides you with a personalized folder for saving results, searches, and creating search or journal alerts. The accounts are easy to create, simply click on 'Sign In' and then 'I'm a new user.

CINAHL via EBSCOhost allows you to view the searches that you have performed recently, and to modify and save them for later use. To see the searches you have run, click the 'Search History/Alerts' tab just below the search boxes. From here, you can see the text of your search, any limits you might have added, and the number of articles the search found. You can modify or delete each search from your history if you choose.

To save the search, click 'Save Searches/Alerts.' Note: You need to have a My EBSCOhost account to save your search. When you click on 'Save Searches/Alerts,' you will be prompted to login if you have not already done so.

When saving your search history, you will be able name it and add a description. You can choose whether you want the search saved permanently, temporarily, or as an alert. If you save it as an alert, EBSCOhost will automatically run your search on a regular basis and will send your results via email. If you have previously saved search histories you can retrieve them in the 'Search History/Alerts' section.

Transferring Saved CINAHL Searches - OVID to EBSCOhost

1. Perform your search and add the desired citations to the Folder by clicking the Add Icon on the right hand side of the screen.
2. Once you have added citations to the Folder (at the top right hand side of the screen) the Folder will say Folder has items.
3. Click on Folder has items.
4. Choose Export.
5. On the next screen choose Direct Export to RefWorks and then Save.
6. If you are not already logged into RefWorks, you will be prompted to enter your login and password.
7. Click on the View Last Imported Folder button to see your references.