Article Search Strategy and Review

This article discusses the process of searching for relevant articles and reviewing them for a research question related to Sodium Valproate. The author used several databases including CINAHL, Cochrane, Medline, Google, Google Scholar, and Joanna Briggs Institute. They also used specific search criteria and keywords to narrow down the results. The article selection process involved examining the author, journal ranking, and relevance to the research question. The article review process involved analyzing the research question, purpose, research approach, sample, setting, data collection, analysis, and findings. The applicability to the clinical PICOT question was also discussed.

Running head: ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 1
Article Search Strategy and Review
Student’s (Name)
Institution

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 2
Article Search Strategy
Databases
My search was undertaken using key databases accessed through Murdoch university
library link. I used the following databases CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute, Medline,
Google/Google Scholar, and Cochrane database which contained vast and useful journal articles
that provided accurate and relevant information to my search. These databases provided several
ways to search for information which included such as the title, author, abstract, and all fields.
They also accepted the use of Boolean expressions like and, or and not which enable me in
extracting specific information from the database, furthermore they provided links that helped in
seeking clarifications, additionally, I used Google and Google scholar for carrying out my
research due to their helpful amount of information.
CINAHL
I used Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) because it
provided access to a vast range of journals and article of health. In my research I would say
CINAHL was the best database because it was quick and easy to use. This database had several
search techniques which included use of Boolean expression which is ‘and’ ’or ‘and ‘not’; an
example of a combination I used was the combination of patient and Sodium Valproate and it
brought a very useful article called critical care medicine that had information on medical,
neurological and surgical information related to patients treated by Sodium Valproate. I also
found it very useful and user-friendly because. I could search by geographical regions, age and
age groups, gender and I found both old and new reviewed articles of up to 2017 an example was
although it took quite a lot of time to locate the information. I also used wildcard operator (*) in
locating a wide range of information and tilde operator (~) in finding synonyms of words for

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 3
easy searching. I realized that in using CINAHL acronyms or shortening of words did not work
instead a word must be fully typed for it to be found in the database.
Cochrane
This database has a wide range of information from systematic reviews and meta
analyses on a broad range of health topics. I accessed it to through the Murdock library link and
it took very minimal time to learn how to use it since the keywords were typed in the same box. I
used key words such as sodium valproate and sodium valproate effects and I found no result but
on searching valproate I found a result. On realizing in this database Sodium Valproate was
referred majorly as Valproate I majorly used this word in y search and found several results.
Medline
The Medline database provided an extensive collection of systematic reviews and meta-
analyses on a broad range of health topics specifically on Randomized controlled trials (RCT),
Controlled Trials, Case-control studies, Cohort studies, Descriptive studies, Qualitative studies
and Instrument development research. The Medline allowed me to conduct generalized search
and specific search by use of the Boolean expression ‘and’, ’or’, ’not’ and ‘and not’, Medline
provided articles with a large amount of data in terms of population and statistics an example is
the article Sodium valproate in the treatment of epilepsy
Google
The evolution of the electronic age has led to the development of numerous medical
databases on the World Wide Web. I, therefore, used Google as a search engine since it is one of

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 4
my favorite databases with vast information.it allowed me to use the positive (+) and negative (-)
operator in specifying the range of my search. The information provided by Google was helpful
however due to the wide range of information available I had to spend a lot of time in finding
only the information relevant to my search and time specific. Google has proven key to solving
medical problems, some limitations of Google to my search was that in some articles the
information found were irrelevant and lacked evidence though they had relevant title to my
search hence confusing. Google through advanced setting allowed me to specify the currency of
my search, and use of Boolean expressions.
Google scholar
Unlike Google, google scholar was more helpful because of its more advanced search
functions and it the citation functions it provided and the metrics tool to inform the reader about
the visibility and influence of the associated journals. It provided reviewed journals for carrying
out the search. In searching google scholar I also used quotation marks to locate specific
information that I required from the database and the results were useful in answering my
research question. Google scholar provided me with useful articles that gave me access to the
population in relation to use of Sodium Valproate Example In a place of 142 patients according
to a study 84 percent were less than 20 years with several forms of generalized epilepsy.
Joanna Bridge Institute
This database that I accessed through Murdock university link contained seven
publication types and over three thousand records. It contained option for carrying out searches
using publication types and by use of key words, despite all these its database was not as helpful
since it seemed to have limited resources specific to my research question. As compared to other
databases its resources were very limited.

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 5
Sources
In my researching of PICO question, I used primary and secondary sources and I did not
use any grey literature. The publications and books I used consist of peer reviewed journals,
articles and randomized controlled trials, these are primary sources and systematic reviews and
summary of primary sources which are secondary sources.
Article Data Range
Statistics plays a vital role in biomedical research. Many biomedical articles have
statistical errors either in presentation or analysis of data. Studies that review evidence or test
interventions in comparative designs are the essential building blocks of evidence‐based practice.
Without these, nursing care remains rooted in traditional ways of working without secure
evidence of effect or harm. With nursing care in some countries coming under intense scrutiny,
criticism, and demand for change. Due to this is used where possible the most recent publications
made within the last ten years from 2008 to 2018.Furthermore, in this issue of currency, research
suggests that engaging in evidence-based research routinely will improve the quality of
healthcare delivery and patient outcomes and emphasizes the need for up to date research to be
conducted frequently hence my need for currency.
Subject Heading and Keywords
PICOT Question: What is the period of recovery (O) for patients who developed a post
Sodium Valproate (I) as compared to patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of
recovery (T)?
I started by identifying keywords in my question which I used in my search. Keywords
which I used to represent the different parts of my question were as follows:

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 6
For population (P): Sodium Valproate, patients with Sodium Valproate. For intervention
(I): treatment for comparison(C): compare, never, within for outcome (O) period, recovery my
time frame was within the first two weeks. Using this keyword led to a variety of article
example. Effects of sodium valproate in 100 children with special reference to weight that looks
at the effect of Sodium Valproate when administered to children.
Search Strategy
My initial approach was to start with searching phrases in my PICOT question which
failed to work, I therefore used a single keywords example ‘Sodium Valproate’ and it brought
very nice articles like Acute Hepatic Failure Associated with the Use of Sodium Valproate in
order to describe the question and then in order to refine the results I either adding or removing
some keywords I also used search specific search criteria such as use of quotation marks since I
found that searching too many keywords at once was often too specific resulting in few results
sometimes no result at all. When searching words using Boolean-like ‘Sodium Valproate and its
effect’ I also found informative article example Oral valproic acid for epilepsy.
Article Selection
I used several criteria to determine which item to consider since finding the article
specific to my question was quite difficult. First, I examined the best article to get based on the
database and author of the article and then I examined each article abstract to confirm a good
match for my PICO question: the correct population, intervention, comparison, outcomes and
time, I then narrowed down to those that were appropriate in providing a clear answer to my
question. The remaining articles were shortlisted since my question is specific so I took the most
recent evidence-based content. Finally, those with larger population size were given more
priority and preference over those with smaller population or where the study did not include a

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 7
control group, with a focus on meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized control trials.
My emphasis was in accessing an evidence-based article based on the article Evidence-Based
Practice, Step by Step: Searching for the Evidence.
Article Review
Article 1
PICOT question: what is the period of recovery (O) for patients who developed a post Sodium
Valproate (I) as compared to patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of recovery (T)?
Author(s), Date, Article
Title, Journal, Volume,
Issue Primary Author
Credentials. Journal
Ranking, Bias, Reliability
Connolly, K. R., & Thase, M. E. (2011). The clinical
management of bipolar disorder: a review of evidence-based
guidelines. The primary care companion for CNS
disorders, 13(4).
doi:10.4088/PCC.10r01097
Primary authors credentials:
Dr. Connolly, School of Behavioral Health, Philadelphia Medical
Center, Philadelphia, Woodland Avenue
Dr. Thase, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Journal Ranking and Reliability’s of 2.95 in 2011
This journal provides high quality peer reviewed papers related to
symptoms and treatment of treatment of bipolar disorder
Research Question and
Purpose
Research question:
What is the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, what are the several
ways analyzed the symptoms observed, and what are treatments

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 8
that are available for the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Purpose:
To discuss the ways that can be used to analyses the moods of
bipolar disorder and the approaches to further analyses this
diagnosis presented, and the treatments that are available that are
evidence based.
Research Method:
Approach, Sample,
Setting, Data Collection,
Analysis
Guidelines used in this study were chosen from random,
systematic trials; analyses; and natural trials which were
published since 2005.
There were four framework which are evidence based present for
the treatment of bipolar disorder in which. Three of the four were
published in 2009: which are those off an Australian project, the
ones of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, and
those of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders and the
Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments. The most
recent guidelines from US is that of the Texas Implementation of
Medication Algorithms project, which was last updated in the
year 2005.
A search on adults with bipolar was conducted on March of 2005
using the Agency for Healthcare Research a Quality Evidence
Reports database, National Guideline Clearinghouse database and
the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Moreover, a

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 9
query was conducted from the PubMed database that completed
in March,2010 and search for online unpublished resources was
conducted to see randomized trials to help in evaluating viable
strategies to treat persevere depression.
Research Findings Bipolar disorder is an illness that is associated with the risk of
health and mind effects due to this they are making the role of
person taking care of them key. In managing the mood changes
the focus should be on safety there is need for an evidence based
treatment. The Long-term management are tasked with the
maintenance of euthermia, and provision of adjunctive
psychotherapy.
Applicability to Clinical
PICOT Question Detail
why and how the article
relates to your clinical
PICOT question.
PICOT Question: what is the period of recovery (O) for patients
who developed a post Sodium Valproate (I) as compared to
patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of recovery (T)?
This article relates to my question such that upon the assessment
of the complications affecting post BPAD treatment with sodium
Valproate, it was acknowledged that by addressing the most
critical problem, the recovery increasingly shortened but this
came with challenges of worsening mood developed and
increased symptoms over the last 3 weeks. With this article I seek
to understand the relationship of the administration of Sodium

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 10
Valproate and the effects such as the moods and any other
symptoms over the last three weeks.
Article 2
PICOT Question: what is the period of recovery (O) for patients who developed a post
Sodium Valproate (I) as compared to patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of
recovery (T)?
Author(s), Date, Article
Title, Journal, Volume,
Issue Primary Author
Credentials. Journal
Ranking, Bias, Reliability
Yurekli, V. A., Akhan, G., Kutluhan, S., Uzar, E., Koyuncuoglu,
H. R., & Gultekin, F. (2008). The effect of sodium valproate on
chronic daily headache and its subgroups. The journal of
headache and pain, 9(1), 37-41.
February 2008, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp 37–41
doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2009.07.002
Primary authors credentials:
1. Veda Ali Yurekli, Department of Neurology, School of
Medicine, Suleiman Demirep University, Sparta, Turkey
2. Gallop Akhan, Department of Biochemistry, School of
Medicine Suleiman Demirep University, Sparta, Turkey
Journal Ranking and Reliability:
This journal publishes high quality peer-reviewed papers on
Sodium Valproate and its effect on chronic daily headache and its
sub group.

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 11
Research Question and
Purpose
Research question
What is the effect of sodium valproate on the daily
headache and its effects
Research purpose
To analyses the efficiency and of sodium valproate
(VPA) on chronic daily headache (CDH) in a qualitative and
randomly sampled controlled trial.
Research Method:
Approach, Sample,
Setting, Data Collection,
Analysis
Examination that is based on the mind(psychological) and the
body(physical) was administered. Hematology which is the
blood chemistry tests which examine: liver function tests,
thyroid function tests, ferritin, electrolytes, vitamin B12, folic
acid, and were performed at the initial parts of thearchy to
evaluate secondary reasons of headache
By the end of these examinations, patients who recorded organic
pathogens like malignancy dysthyroid, anemia, hypertension
and other major depression were exclude from the study. After a
period of 3 weeks, the patients were included in the study.
Because of the low number of patients available, the patients of
HC and NDPH were not included. The final number of patients
in the study was 70. Out of these twenty-nine of them had CM
and the rest had CTTH. Further liver tests for function and the
measurement of total blood were applied to all patients by the

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 12
end of the fourth and the twelfth week respectively; of the study.
After this study the patients recorded the frequency of
occurrence of their headache which was closely observed in a
follow up activity.
Research Findings In the findings Sodium valproate and placebo groups were made
up of five males which was 12.5% then thirty-five females
constituting 87.5%, respectively. The average age of Sodium
Valproate and placebo groups were fourteen to forty-one and
fourth respectively.
Applicability to Clinical
PICOT Question Detail
why and how the article
relates to your clinical
PICOT question.
PICOT question: what is the period of recovery (O) for patients
who developed a post Sodium Valproate (I) as compared to
patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of recovery (T)?
This article related to my PICO question in that I seek to identify
the effect of Sodium Valproate in trying to understand difference
of duration of patients who developed post Sodium Valproate
compared to patients who never within the first two weeks, with
this I look at its effect in other daily diseases such a headache.

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 13
Article 3
Author(s), Date, Article
Title, Journal, Volume,
Issue Primary Author
Credentials. Journal
Ranking, Bias, Reliability
Beenen, L. F. M., Lindeboom, J., Trenité, D. K. N., Heimans, J.
J., Snoek, F. J., Touw, D. J., ... & Van Alphen, H. A. M. (1999).
Comparative double blind clinical trial of phenytoin and sodium
valproate as anticonvulsant prophylaxis after craniotomy:
efficacy, tolerability, and cognitive effects. Journal of Neurology,
Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 67(4), 474-480
doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.67.4.474
Primary author credentials
Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Hospital Vrije
Universiteit,1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Journal Ranking and Reliability:

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 14
This journal provides good peer-reviewed papers related to
treatment of bipolar disorders, neuropathic pain, and as a
migraine prophylaxis in terms of the process for it to act on
enzymes.
Research Question and
Purpose
Research question:
What is the impact of Sodium Valproate as compared to
anticonvulsant prophylaxis with reference to patients after they
have undergone craniotomy
Research purpose:
To determine the efficiency, reliability and relevancy of Sodium
Valproate to the patience quality of life after craniotomy
Research Method:
Approach, Sample,
Setting, Data Collection,
Analysis
A random sampling structured yet critical clinical trial was
performed, it compared two groups each containing 50 patients
who were patients recovering from craniotomy and at the surgery
time 300 mg phenytoin/day or 1500 mg sodium valproate/day
was administered to them. The patients were seen after 3,5,6,12
months during the study where medical history, drug plasma and
adverse events were evaluated.

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 15
Research Findings In the study out of the hundred patients experienced postoperative
seizures. The seizures of the two groups were almost equal and
the blood plasms. Five patients in the Valproate group must stop
their treatment due to adverse seizures.
Applicability to Clinical
PICOT Question Detail
why and how the article
relates to your clinical
PICOT question.
PICOT question: what is the period of recovery (O) for patients
who developed a post Sodium Valproate (I) as compared to
patients who never (C) within the 1st two weeks of recovery
(T)? This article related to my PICO question in that it
investigated the effect of Sodium Valproate comparing it to
anticonvulsant prophylaxis after treatment my emphasis was on
the duration it takes to act in the treatment to determine whether
the symptoms were because of Sodium Valproate or other
chemicals such as anticonvulsant prophylaxis
Summary
Basing on the complication of the bipolar disease and that it might result to poor health
outcome, it can be concluded that the effects after treatment by Sodium Valproate were not
because of the drug administered but it was due to the nature of the disease. In investigating

ARTICLE SEARCH STRATEGY AND REVIEW 16
this further with statistics on the second article i aimed at seeing the effect of Sodium
Valproate in other areas such as headache and I realized that there is an effect of Sodium
Valproate in the daily headache. I finally came up with the accurate result as confirmed in the
third article that Sodium Valproate had an effect to the extent some had to stop treatment due
to adverse effects. It can therefore be concluded that in trying to compare sodium valproate to
non-pharmaceutical methods the non-pharmaceutical method could be more effective
understanding that though the recovery of using sodium valproate may be faster but there are
after treatment effects that might be adverse.
Reference
Beenen, L. F. M., Lindeboom, J., Trenité, D. K. N., Heimans, J. J., Snoek, F. J., Touw, D. J., ...
& Van Alphen, H. A. M. (1999). Comparative double blind clinical trial of phenytoin and
sodium valproate as anticonvulsant prophylaxis after craniotomy: efficacy, tolerability,
and cognitive effects. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 67(4), 474-480
Connolly, K. R., & Thase, M. E. (2011). The clinical management of bipolar disorder: a review
of evidence-based guidelines. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 13(4).
Yurekli, V. A., Akhan, G., Kutluhan, S., Uzar, E., Koyuncuoglu, H. R., & Gultekin, F. (2008).
The effect of sodium valproate on chronic daily headache and its subgroups. The journal
of headache and pain, 9(1), 37-41.