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Database Search Tips

This guide will help get you started in some of our most popular databases! Happy searching! Let us know if we can help.

About

SPORTDiscus is the leading database for sport and sports medicine research. Its content includes mostly journals with some grey-literature, and the publication range is 1800 - present.

Most useful for:

  • Sport, recreation, and coaching
  • Exercise physiology
  • Sports medicine
  • Physical fitness, training, and conditioning
  • Sociology of sport

Getting Started

Basic Searching Instructions

1. Enter words or phrases that describe your topic in the search box. Put each unique concept in a separate box.

2. Combine keywords using AND or OR from the drop-down beside the search boxes.

3. Click Search.

 

A screenshot of the search boxes in SportDiscus with the words "ankle," "arthroscopy," and "soccer" added to each line.

 

 

Combining your Search terms

OR will find references with any of the search terms. Use OR to broaden your search.

AND will find references with all the search terms. Use AND to narrow your search.

 

Search History Location

Your search history can be found from an option on the left-side menu. Click on "recent activity" to see the past searches you have run (please note: SportDiscus will wipe its memory after a few hours):

 

A screenshot showing the left menu options, with "recent activity" highlighted by a red arrow

 

Combining your Search terms

From your search history, you can select searches you have previously run to combine them. Select the check box next to the searches you would like to combine, and then select the small combination icon that should appear above them. You can then select if you want to AND or OR the two together. Here is what that combination icon looks like:

 

A screenshot of two searches within a search history being selected to be combined together.

 

Steps to Find Full-Text Articles

If you are unable to find full-text articles using the links below, you will need to order it via InterLibrary Loan (Step #3).

Before making a request for full-text articles through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), please try steps #1 and #2 to search for the full-text. This allows our service to focus on articles that are not available for free nor via our Duke subscriptions. Our Interlibrary Loan service is no charge to Duke borrowers for all article requests. If there are copyright or other fees associated with your article request, we will contact you.

  1. Find the article citation in a database: If you aren't already in a database, go back to PubMed or other database such as CINAHL, Embase, or Web of Science to look up the article. Why? Because our Get it @ Duke button will fill out the ILL form for you with all the article information – this saves you time and ensures greater citation accuracy.
  2. Click the GetIt@Duke button: Once you locate the article in a citation database, click the Get It @ Duke link.
  3. Select second button to request as Med Center User: From the page that says “We don't have this online — see below for other ways to get it” click the green button that says “Request – Med Center users.”
  4. Log on with your DHE / NetID username and password: This will take you to the ILL form. The article information will be filled into the form automatically. Scroll to the bottom, verify accuracy, and click submit.

If you can't find the citation in a database or you don't see a GetIt@Duke button, you can place a request manually through our interlibrary loan service. Follow the steps below.

Questions about Interlibrary Loan? All interlibrary loan questions should go to Louis Wiethe, Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan Manager, 919.660.1179 or louis.wiethe@duke.edu

Contact the Medical Library

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medical-librarian@duke.edu