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Using CINAHL through EBSCO

CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, is the premier nursing and allied health index. Due to changes in GALILEO, it is now available only with an EBSCO interface. While it is possible to search CINAHL as you would EBSCO Academic Search Premiere (by keyword), CINAHL's subject headings offer tightly focused access to the exact information you need.

Because EBSCO CINAHL does not offer accurate information on whether the library has particular indexed journals, you will need to use GIL to check holdings as you search. Be prepared for disappointment and/or interlibrary loans, because most of what CINAHL indexes is NOT in the library.

1. Remember that with CINAHL the best searches are tightly focused and usually involve two concepts. For example: diabetes AND adolescence for diabetes in adolescence. Two concepts work better than three. This is true even for subject heading searching.
2. To find CINAHL, choose the amber Medicine and Health tab from the top of GALILEO and select Nursing and Allied Health from the pulldown menu. Click on C and then click on CINAHL.
3. Begin your search by clicking on CINAHL Headings.
4. In the text box in the pale yellow square, type in your first concept. Click the browse button.
5. CINAHL presents you with a list of subject headings that match your concept.
6. Sometimes CINAHL tells you to use a different term. If that is the case click on CINAHL's suggestion.
7. Otherwise check the list of headings and click the check off box to the left of the heading you want. If you want an extremely focused search, click the box in the Major Concept column. If your term contains many smaller topics, check off the box in the Explode column.
8. DO NOT ADD YOUR TERM YET! This creates a search statement that has extra ((parentheses)) in it that also yields no results. Instead, repeat these steps 5-7 for your second concept.
9. When you have subject headings for both your concepts, switch the scroll box next to the add button to and. Then click add.
10. Click search to launch your search.
11. You receive a list of references in groups of ten. Click on the blue titles to open up the full citation with abstract.
12. For full text and full image articles, click on the blue text to the right of the icon. Note there are not many full text articles in CINAHL. Most of the references CINAHL lists are to articles NOT in the library. Remember to use GIL to check the library's holdings.
13. You can print in the regular way after viewing references or articles. While the articles are still on the screen, click the print link near the top of the page and follow EBSCO's instructions.
14. An arrow pointing right sends you to the next group. An arrow pointing left sends you to the previous group. Articles come in batches of ten.
15. To start another search click on CINAHL Headings. It is better simply to start over than to try to add to an existing search due to the problem with ((multiple parentheses.))

EHK -- February 2005