Grounding Your Questions

Healthcare Layer

In many disciplines. a savvy search string is built from isolating key concepts and applying filters and limiters. The steps for building out that savvy search string are the meat of this resource. However, healthcare has an added layer. While you will still be isolating key concepts, in all likelihood you will need to do some digging on what those key concepts mean and | or look like through the lens of healthcare. Without this background or foundational knowledge, you will construct an inappropriate search strategy and | or be unable to interpret your results.

Make sure you understand the two, key types of questions that contribute to your search.

Background and Foreground Questions

With the complexity of some of the terms and concepts in Nursing, you may need some background information before you settle down for a full search. Questions that guide research in Nursing have even been divided into Background and Foreground questions.

Background questions ask for general knowledge about a condition or thing.

Foreground questions ask for specific knowledge to inform clinical decisions or actions.

Background Questions

Ask for general knowledge about a disease or disease process.
Have two essential components:

A question root (who, what, when, etc.) with a verb
A disorder, test, treatment, or other aspect of healthcare

Example: What causes migraines? or How often should women over the age of 40 have a mammogram?

The background question is usually asked because of the need for basic information. It is not normally asked because of a need to make a clinical decision about a specific patient.

Where to Go: Background Questions

While your first instinct might be to pull up Google and search the world wide web, for academic and professional research the Library’s resources serve you better. Let’s pit the world (wide web)’s most popular search engine, Google, against the Library:

Now that you know where to start your search, you will need to sort out your information needs. The first step is to clarify any understanding of the basic concepts. You will need to understand important, background information before moving on to the search. There are certain resources better suited for this background knowledge. Solidify your understanding of some typical types of background information you might require.

If you do need background information, the Library has highlighted some sources best suited to provide. Remember, if you are in the BScN program, you have access to McMaster University’s resources as well. Its Library has a far larger budget and may have more options, especially for online access and learning. While you may be searching for specific information, below are some general, highlighted sources to give you an idea of what’s available at Mohawk and through open, curated-for-quality sources.

Terminology: Dictionary of nursing: Over 11 000 terms clearly defined (2008)

Pathology: Textbook of pathology (2015)

Health Promotion: One example of patient education sites ~ UHN’s Patient education and engagement site

Drug Information: The PA’s complete guide to prescribing drug therapy (2018)

Clinical Skills: Clinical skills for nurses: Student survival skills (2013)

Lab Values: Interpreting common lab results (2016)

Anatomy & Physiology: Comprehensive OER (open educational resource) Anatomy & Physiology

Foreground Questions

Ask for specific knowledge about managing patients with a disease.

Where to Go: Foreground Questions

These very focused questions are best answered by current research published in journal articles. Typically, these journals are not available via a Google or Edge search; they live in fee-based databases available through your Library. Currently, the Library provides approximately 20 databases with current, high quality academic sources related to health care. Peruse them or zero in on one highlighted on your Research Guide.