Shelter Health Outreach Program (SHOP) Resource Guide

When creating a search string it's best to think of a comprehensive set of related terms. 

For example terms related to 'elderly' :

• elder* (use an asterisk to search for various forms of the word)
• aged
• "older persons" (use quotes to search for multiple words together as a term)
• geriatric
• senior citizen
• old

To add on other search topics use the word 'AND', use the word 'OR' between all the related terms

For example, here is a comprehensive search string :

(elder OR aged OR "older persons" OR geriatric OR "senior citizen*" OR old*) AND (hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND ("health literacy" OR "health communication" OR "consumer health" OR "community health" OR "community care")

If you use the basic search construct your search string like an algebraic math equation like this: ((elder OR aged OR "older persons" OR geriatric OR "senior citizen*" OR old*) AND (hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND ("health literacy" OR "health communication" OR "consumer health" OR "community health" OR "community care"))

But when starting a search it may be best to depend on the multiple boxes in the advanced search like this search in Articles+:

When using Articles+, take advantage of the saved folder option

Run a Search and look to the right corner of the record

Use Refworks to save your citations and create reference lists

If you plan to use Google Scholar, access it through the Penn Library website

Navigate to Databases column and click on Connect to Resource

Go to Google Scholar Settings to add Refworks as export option

Visit the Advanced Search settings and narrow your search

Looking for a report? They are often saved as format= PDF

Looking for a specific site domain? .edu= universities or academic institution; .gov=government; .org=organization