This instructional course is intended for graduate and post-graduate students, as well as those actively involved in research within the Prosthetics and Orthotics field.

Literature searches are a necessary component of effective research. To identify and access suitable literature, researchers need to understand which databases are most appropriate, how they differ in terms of content and search structure, and how to develop a search strategy which optimizes the proportion of relevant literature sources. Additionally, scholarly journals are increasingly requiring authors to publish utilized search strings to allow duplication of results.

The choice of terms and syntax used to construct searches within literature databases have a major influence on the outcomes of a literature search. If this process is not conducted correctly, it can result in unnecessary identification of inappropriate sources or unintended omission of appropriate literature. This instructional course will be led by academic P&Os and librarians and will equip participants with the tools to develop an advanced search strategy for a prosthetics and orthotics related topic. In addition, the concept of validated search filters, also known as search hedges, will be introduced. These can be used to efficiently and accurately filter the evergrowing volume of literature. During the course, participants will be provided with a validated search hedge which has been developed by the instructional team to be utilized when conducting a systematic search for literature within the area of limb prosthetics.

Statement of the objective / learning objectives. Upon completion, the student will:

Understand the concept of a search hedge

Make informed decisions about the selection and use of literature databases

Independently develop a search strategy for a prosthetics and orthotics related topic