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SoHP: Clinical Studies Resources

Use for resources on Clinical Studies topics.

Interlibrary Loan

local_library

NU Interlibrary Loan Service

Electronically request and receive articles, book chapters, or other resources when unavailable in full-text from the NU Library.

Research Best Bets

NavigatorSearch

Navigator Search, National University Library

Search for articles, books, dissertations, and more

        

Finding Full-Text

Finding full-text is easy if you know what you're looking for (refer to image below):

  1. In most databases you can simply limit to ONLY articles that have full-text available.
  2. In NavigatorSearch and other EBSCO databases, you can select the "Click to look for full text" option under an article to see if it is available in another library database.
  3. Articles with PDF full text availability will show up with the "PDF Full Text" icon under the article record.

Find Full Text (based on previous text)

Click image for larger view.

Searching for Clinical Trials in Library Databases

To search for clinical trials in PubMed, conduct a search on your topic. On the results page, use the Article types filter on the left to limit your search results to Clinical Trial.

Limiting PubMed search results to Clinical Trial using Article Types filter

To search for clinical trials in Cochrane Library, select the Trials tab on the navigation menu and click Search Trials (CENTRAL).Search Cochrane Library by clicking on Trials in the navigation menu and selecting Search Trials (CENTRAL)

 

You can also conduct a search using your keywords and select the Trials tab from the results list.

Search results list in Cochrane Library with Trials tab selected

To search for clinical trials in TRIP, select the Controlled Trials filter on the right after running a search with your keyword(s). NOTE: The Ongoing Clinical Trials filter is only available to PRO subscribers.

TRIP database results limited by Controlled Trials filter

To search for clinical trials in the OVID database, follow these steps.

1. Click on Edit Limits on the basic search page.

Basic Search page in OVID with arrow pointing to select Edit Limits button

2. On the Limits page, check Clinical Trials and save by clicking the Customize Limits button.

Limits Search page with Clinical Trials limit checked and Customize Links button highlighted to save changes

3. Enter your keywords in the search box, select Clinical Trial under the Clinical Trials limiter, and click Search.

OVID Basic Search screen with Clinical Trials limiter available

To search for clinical trials in APA PsycArticles, click on the Advanced Search link and select Clinical Trial under Methodology in the Search Options. Enter your keywords into the search box and click Search.Methodology search option with clinical trial highlighted in PsycARTICLES

To search for clinical trials in APA PsycInfo, click on the Advanced Search link and select Clinical Trial under Methodology in the Search Options. Enter your keywords into the search box and click Search.Methodology search option with clinical trial highlighted in PsycINFO

To search for clinical trials in CINAHL, select Clinical Trial under Publication Type in the Search Options. Enter your keywords into the search box and click Search.

CINAHL complete search options showing Publication Type with Clinical Trial selected

To search for clinical trials in MEDLINE, select Clinical Trial under Publication Type in the Search Options. Enter your keywords into the search box and click Search.

MEDLINE complete search options showing Publication Type with Clinical Trial selected

Advanced Search Techniques: MESH and PICO

MESH

The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus is a controlled and hierarchically-organized vocabulary produced by the National Library of Medicine. Use MeSH in CINAHL and PubMed to conduct research on medical/clinical topics.

Watch this video on using MeSH in PubMed.

Watch this video on using CINAHL's Subject Headings.

PICO

PICO is a format for developing a good clinical research question prior to starting one’s research. Use the PICO format in CINAHL and Cochrane to search for scholarly articles about interventions. 

Read this flipbook on conducting a PICO search in Cochrane.