You may also want to record your results with your strategy in an Excel spreadsheet. See below for an example.
Most databases have an account feature that allows you to save your searches and collections of article records you find when you are searching. Make use of these features to manage your search and save yourself time! Typically log-ins are located in the top right of the database web-page.
To save time when completing your IACUC protocol, there are several ways to quickly save searches directly from databases, but however you choose to do so, please be sure to include the complete search strategy. This should include all the terms you used and how you combined them. Searches can and should be added as a separate attachment if you are unable to fit the entire strategy in section B3 of the protocol.
Copy and paste your final search(es).
Make sure you include all of the searches you looked for articles in.
Examples:
| PubMed | Search: (osteomyelitis) AND (fucose OR arachidonic acid) Search: (((osteomyelitis) AND staphylococcus aureus) AND ("injuries"[Subheading] OR "wounds and injuries"[MeSH Terms] OR "trauma"[tiab])) AND acute[Title/Abstract] |
| Scopus | Search: ( TITLE-ABS-KEY ( osteomyelit* ) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "L-fucose" OR "arachidonic acid" ) ) Search: ( TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "acute osteomyel*" ) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "staph* aureus" ) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ( trauma* OR "post trauma*" OR posttrauma* ) ) |
| Web of Science | Search: TOPIC: (osteomyelit*) AND TOPIC: ("L-fucose" OR "arachidonic acid") Search: TOPIC: ("acute osteomyel*") AND TOPIC: ("staph* aureus") AND TOPIC: (trauma* OR "post trauma*" OR posttrauma*) |
Take a screenshot of your Search History.
How to take a screenshot: Use the Print Screen key on your keyboard to capture what is on your computer screen. Then paste the screenshot into a word document.
In PubMed your search history is on the Advanced Search Page.