Boolean Operators (AND, OR, etc.) are ways to combine your terms to get the results you want.  A couple reminders:

• Use AND if you want to search for all terms (e.g., exercise AND hypertension).  Using AND will always narrow your search (produce fewer hits) because it's looking for the occurrence of all terms together (exercise and hypertension) in the search.
• Use OR if you want to search one term or another but not necessarily both, (e.g., blood pressure OR hypertension).  Using OR will always broaden your search (produce more hits) because it's looking for the occurrence of either term, not both together.

Limit your search in the following ways on the initial search screen, or by clicking on "Show More" on the left sidebar.  (Remember to click "Search" again on the green banner to apply your limit[s]):

Limit to Research Studies:

• In the "Publication Type" box, click on "Research"

Limit to Systematic Reviews:

• In the "Publication Type" box, click on "Systematic Review"

Limit to Randomized Control Trial:

• In the "Publication Type" box, click on "Randomized Control Trial" or
• Check the box in the right column for "Randomized Control Trials"

Limit to a Qualitative Study:

• Click on the "CINAHL Headings" button on the top blue banner
• Browse for "qualitative study"
• Note that "Qualitative Studies" is a CINAHL subject term you can use as a limit
• Choose "Qualitative Studies" and choose to "Explode" it, but DO NOT check "Major Concept"

Limit to a Cohort Study:

• Click on the "CINAHL Headings" button on the top blue banner
• Browse for "cohort study"
• A note tells you to use "Prospective Studies" instead of "Cohort Study"
• Choose "Prospective Studies" and choose to "Explode" it, but DO NOT check "Major Concept"

To make your article searches more focused than a simple keyword search allows, CINAHL provides subject headings that retrieve more specific results.

• View a Tutorial about how to best use CINAHL's headings to build your search

• Access CINAHL headings in one of two ways:
• From the "CINAHL Headings" button in the blue banner at the top of the database screen; or
• By clicking the "Suggest Subject Terms" box when you type in your terms on the Advanced Search screen.