Evidence Based Practice: Limits and filters

Using filters

Search filters are designed to help you find clinically relevant research from health databases. They are usually methodological (finding specific publication types or study designs) or subject based (finding articles within specific areas of study). Using filters for a particular topic or methodology may improve your search sensitivity or decrease the number of irrelevant results. Filters are also useful for identifying additional search terms.

Limit your search results by study design using these filters:

• Cochrane randomised controlled trial filters
• McMaster University Hedges Project contains filters for the following databases:
  • CINAHL
  • Embase
  • Medline
  • PsycInfo
• Search filters (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network)
• PubMed Clinical Queries
• Search filters (ISSG)
• CINAHL Clinical Queries

Limit your search results by subject area using these filters:

• CareSearch Australia: find evidence based literature via PubMed for palliative care and related topics
• Integrated care: search integrated care literature via PubMed
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: search for literature about ATSI populations and health issues via PubMed
• Search Blocks (Biomedische Informatie): add 'search blocks' to your database searches to limit them by topic

Applying Limits

Databases like Medline and CINAHL allow you to limit your results by publication type, language, publication date, and age group. Use limits to make your search results more relevant to your population.