Exploring the Use of Common Strict Search Criteria in Nursing Literature Searches

If you've worked with Nurses or nursing students on searching the literature, you may have encountered some of the strict parameters -- esp. the 5 year rule or nurse-as-author -- where they won't accept anything older, even if that's when the bulk of the research was done, and the question is considered settled.  Even though databases like CINAHL allow us to use those limits, it may zero out useful results.  

This article / study explores some of those strict search parameters, and suggests a shift in training nurses to use those limits judiciously and when appropriate for best results.  

The lead author, Eleanor Truex is an Ascension Medical Librarian working in the Chicago area.  Kudos to Eleanor and her fellow authors for getting published in the Nurse Educator journal where it will hopefully make a difference in how nurses are taught to search the literature.  

Exploring the Use of Common Strict Search Criteria in Nursing Literature Searches. Truex ES, Spinner E, Hillyer J, Ettien A, Wade S, Calhoun C, Wolf G, Hedreen R, Heimlich L, Nickum A, Vonderheid SC.    Nurse Educ. 2022 Dec 30. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001353. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36728635.   Link to Article.

Abstract

Background: Health sciences librarians and nursing journal contributors have expressed concern about the impact of using strict parameters when searching the literature.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the use of strict search criteria (eg, 5-year rule, "nurse as author") by direct care nurses and nursing students.

Methods: Fourteen online focus groups were conducted with 54 participants: direct care nurses, health sciences librarians, nursing faculty, and nursing students. Nursing faculty and health sciences librarians were included as participants to add perspective to the origins and effects of the use of stringent search criteria.

Results: The majority of the nurses viewed the 5-year rule and nurse as author search limits favorably, while noting that a strict date range may hamper successful searching. Librarians viewed these search criteria more unfavorably but recognized the value of topic-appropriate search limits.

Conclusion: Reliance on strict limits can be detrimental to pertinent results; however, appropriate use is essential for relevant results. Pedagogy focused on searching the nursing literature needs to emphasize that limits are tools to be used judiciously.