A roadmap for searching literature in PubMed: Logbook

Before you begin your literature search, it is a good idea to create a ‘logbook’ in a Word document. 

Record the following:

• research question
• search date
• database(s)
• number of hits/number of records found
• search strategy for each element of your research question
• copy of the search history from the databases

In your logbook, you should also outline any considerations you make when performing the search. This will come in handy later on, as you will know why you made certain decisions. You will need these details to justify your search strategy.

Open a Word document and create a logbook.

Use this template for your first searches. It helps you to follow the right steps in your search.

An example of a logbook with a case study: