Summary
Searching for mobile technology topics can be challenging due to the varying terminology and the cross disciplinary nature of the search terms. This information seeking starter kit provides some basic, structured literature search strategies to get you started. The strategies are not meant to be comprehensive, but are designed to be a flexible launching pad for literature discovery.
What does this search starter kit contain?
This guide provides basic search strategies for some mobile health technology device types and domains to help you:
- Ease the task of finding relevant publications
- Identify if a wearable has been used in particular domain or used a specific measure
- Find U-M collaborators and mentors
In addition to the search strategies, you’ll find instructions on how to combine them and edit them further.
What search strategy should I use?
The search strategies were designed in two different databases: PubMed, and Dimensions Analytics for UM. Below are brief descriptions of the value each tool can bring to your information seeking to help you determine which database to use:
PubMed
This core biomedical, peer-reviewed literature database will be a good choice if you want to:
- Use a broad, structured search that can be edited for literature reviews
- Identify journal articles in the health sciences literature related to mobile health technology
- Find current and previous U-M, health sciences researchers working in the mobile health technology domain.
Dimensions Analytics for U-M
This massive, interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature database indexes the publications of current U-M faculty, and will be a good choice if you want to:
- Identify mobile technology journal articles in domains beyond the health sciences
- Search for current U-M researchers across campus working in the mobile technology domain
- Identify mobile technology measures that may only be mentioned in the full text of an article
- Retrieve a smaller set of articles
Search Strategies
Below are the strategies in PubMed and Dimensions Analytics for U-M. See INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMBINING SEARCHES section at the bottom of the guide.
Basic And Broad Mobile Health Technologies strategy*
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PubMed
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Dimensions Analytics for U-M
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(Wearable Electronic Devices[Mesh] OR wearable*[tw] OR nearable*[tw] OR "fitness tracker*"[tw] OR “ambulatory monit*”[tw] OR "mobile data"[tw] OR "mobile technol*"[tw] OR "mobile health technol*"[tw])
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(wearable* OR nearable* OR "fitness tracker*" OR “ambulatory monit*” OR "mobile data" OR "mobile technol*" OR "mobile health technol*")
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Device Type Search strategies*
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Device Type
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PubMed Search
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Dimensions Analytics for U-M
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Activity Tracker
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(Fitness trackers[mesh] OR “Fitness tracker*”[tw] OR “activity tracker*”[tw] OR fitbit[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR polar[tw] OR whoop[tw] OR xiaomi[tw] OR "mi-band"[tw] OR "mi band"[tw])
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(“Fitness tracker*” OR “activity tracker*” OR fitbit OR garmin OR polar OR whoop OR xiaomi OR "mi-band" OR "mi band")
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Smart Watch
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(“Smart watch*”[tw] OR “smartwatch*”[tw] OR “smart-watch*”[tw] OR “apple watch*”[tw] OR arcawatch*[tw] OR actiwatch*[tw] OR pro-diary[tw] OR fitbit*[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR polar[tw] OR samsung[tw] OR withings[tw] OR xiaomi[tw] OR amazfit[tw])
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(“Smart watch*” OR “smartwatch*” OR “smart-watch*” OR “apple watch*” OR arcawatch* OR actiwatch* OR pro-diary OR fitbit* OR garmin OR polar OR samsung OR withings OR xiaomi OR amazfit)
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Smart Ring
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("Smart ring*"[tw] OR "smartring*"[tw] OR "smart-ring*"[tw] OR oura[tw] OR samsung[tw] OR "galaxy ring*"[tw] OR xiaomi[tw])
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("Smart ring*" OR "smartring*" OR "smart-ring*" OR oura OR samsung OR "galaxy ring*" OR xiaomi)
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Sleep Mat
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(("sleep tracking"[tw] AND (pad[tw] or pads[tw] or mat[tw] or mats[tw])) OR "sleep mat"[tw] OR "smart mat"[tw] OR "smart mats"[tw] OR whoop[tw] OR withings[tw] OR mypregnancycoach[tw] OR sleepspace[tw] OR "smart bed*"[tw] OR pro-diary[tw] OR actiwatch[tw])
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(("sleep tracking" AND (pad or pads or mat or mats)) OR "sleep mat" OR "smart mat" OR "smart mats" OR whoop OR withings OR mypregnancycoach OR sleepspace OR "smart bed*" OR pro-diary OR actiwatch)
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Dry EEG
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((Dry[tw] AND (eeg[tw] OR electrod*[tw])) OR zeto[tw] OR WR19[tw] OR b-alert[tw] OR withings[tw] OR "beamo"[tw] OR kardia[tw])
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((Dry AND (eeg OR electrod*)) OR zeto OR WR19 OR b-alert OR withings OR "beamo" OR kardia)
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Bluetooth Blood
Pressure Cuff
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(("blood pressure determination"[mesh] OR "blood pressure cuff*"[tw] OR "blood pressure monitor*"[tw] OR "bp cuff*"[tw] OR "bp monitor*"[tw]) AND (Bluetooth[tw] OR "blue tooth"[tw] OR smart[tw] OR "Wearable Electronic Devices"[Mesh] OR wearable*[tw] OR nearable*[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR omron[tw] OR withings[tw]))
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(("blood pressure determination" OR "blood pressure cuff*" OR "blood pressure monitor*" OR "bp cuff*" OR "bp monitor*") AND (Bluetooth OR "blue tooth" OR smart OR wearable* OR nearable* OR garmin OR omron OR withings))
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Continuous Glucose Monitor
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("Continuous Glucose Monitoring"[Mesh] OR "Continuous glucose monitor*"[tw] OR "glucose meter*"[tw] OR cgm[tw] OR glucomet*[tw] OR accu-chek[tw] OR evencare[tw] OR ((abbott[tw] OR freestyle[tw] OR dexcom[tw] OR libre[tw] OR lingo[tw] OR rio[tw] medtronic[tw] OR "guardian connect"[tw] OR simplera[tw] OR eversense[tw]) AND ("Continuous glucose monitor*"[tw] OR "cgm"[tw])))
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("Continuous glucose monitor*" OR "glucose meter*" OR cgm OR glucomet* OR accu-chek OR evencare OR ((abbott OR freestyle OR dexcom OR libre OR lingo OR rio medtronic OR "guardian connect" OR simplera OR eversense) AND ("Continuous glucose monitor*" OR "cgm")))
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Smart Phone
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(((Smartphone[mesh] or smartphone*[tw]) AND (wearable*[tw] OR nearable*[tw] OR "wearable electronic devices"[mesh])) OR (phone*[tw] AND sensor*[tw]) OR "ResearchKit"[tw] OR "research kit"[tw] OR "sensor kit"[tw] OR "SensorKit"[tw])
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((smartphone* AND (wearable* OR nearable*)) OR (phone* AND sensor*) OR "ResearchKit" OR "research kit" OR "sensor kit" OR "SensorKit")
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Heart Rate Strap
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((Heart Rate[mesh] OR “heart rate*”[tw]) AND (strap[tw] OR sensor[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR polar[tw]))
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(“heart rate*” AND (strap OR sensor OR garmin OR polar))
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Sports Performance
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((athletic performance[mesh] OR sport[tw] OR sports[tw]) AND ("Wearable Electronic Devices"[Mesh] OR "fitness tracker*"[tw] OR wearable*[tw] OR nearable*[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR "foot pod*"[tw] OR garmin[tw] OR polar[tw] OR stryd[tw] OR "power meter*"[tw]))
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(("athletic performance" OR sport OR sports) AND ("fitness tracker*" OR wearable* OR nearable* OR garmin OR "foot pod*" OR garmin OR polar OR stryd OR "power meter*"))
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Thermometer
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(("thermometers"[Mesh] OR thermometer*[tw] OR temperature[mesh] OR temperature[tw]) AND ("Wearable Electronic Devices"[Mesh] OR wearable[tw] OR nearable[tw] OR withings[tw] OR temptraq[tw]))
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((thermometer* OR temperature) AND (wearable OR nearable OR withings OR temptraq ))
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Domain Search strategies*
Note: We'll be adding additional domains. Check back for updates.
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Domain
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PubMed Search
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Dimensions Analytics for U-M
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Cardiovascular
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("cardiovascular agents"[mesh] OR "cardiovascular diseases"[mesh] OR Cardiovascular[tw] OR cardiac[tw] OR "heart rate*"[tw] OR electrocardiography[mesh] OR Electrocardiogram*[tw] OR arrhythmia*[tw] OR tachycardia[tw] OR ECG[tw] OR EKG[tw])
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(Cardiovascular OR cardiac OR "heart rate*" OR electrocardiography OR Electrocardiogram* OR arrhythmia* OR tachycardia OR ECG OR EKG)
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Physical Activity
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(exercise[mesh] OR exercise[tw] OR running[tw] OR walking[tw] OR swimming[tw] OR climb*[tw] OR "activ* time"[tw] OR "step count"[tw] OR ("heart rate"[tw] AND zone[tw] ) OR wheelchairs[mesh] OR (wheelchair*[tw] AND (propulsion[tw] OR push*)) or gait[tw] OR "time sitting"[tw] OR "time standing"[tw] OR "time walking"[tw] OR (stair*[tw] AND climb*[tw]) OR "rest time"[tw])
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(exercise OR running OR walking OR swimming OR climb* OR "activ* time" OR "step count" OR ("heart rate" AND zone ) OR (wheelchair* AND (propulsion OR push*)) or gait OR "time sitting" OR "time standing" OR "time walking" OR (stair* AND climb*) OR "rest time")
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Sleep
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(Sleep[mesh] OR "Sleep Wake Disorders"[Mesh] OR wakefulness[mesh] OR sleep*[tw] OR apnea[tw] OR insomnia[tw] OR wakeful*[tw] OR wake[tw] OR "time in bed"[tw] OR nap[tw] OR naps[tw])
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(sleep* OR apnea OR insomnia OR wakeful* OR wake OR "time in bed" OR nap OR naps)
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*Search notes:
PubMed:
[MeSH]= Medical Subject Headings, PubMed’s indexing. [TW] is the title/abstract/author supplied keywords.
Dimensions Analytics for U-M:
Searches can be conducted in the full text or title/abstract.
Instructions for Combining Search strategies - Sample Searches
The search strategies below are designed to be combined. Choose the BASIC AND BROAD MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES SEARCH or a DEVICE TYPE SEARCH, and combine it with a DOMAIN SEARCH.
Below are some sample search constructions.
Example 1:
I am looking for studies that use smart rings for sleep.
Step 1:
Construct the search by copying the Smart Ring strategy and Sleep strategy and combine with: AND
("Smart ring*"[tw] OR "smartring*"[tw] OR "smart-ring*"[tw] OR oura[tw] OR samsung[tw] OR "galaxy ring*"[tw] OR xiaomi[tw]) AND (Sleep[mesh] OR "Sleep Wake Disorders"[Mesh] OR wakefulness[mesh] OR sleep*[tw] OR apnea[tw] OR insomnia[tw] OR wakeful*[tw] OR wake[tw] OR "time in bed"[tw] OR nap[tw] OR naps[tw])
Step 2:
Copy and paste the search into the PubMed search box.
Example 2:
I am interested in seeing how mobile health technologies are used in the cardiovascular domain. I don’t have a specific device in mind.
Step 1:
Construct the search by copying the BASIC AND BROAD MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES strategy and CARDIOVASCULAR DOMAIN strategy and combining with: AND
(Wearable Electronic Devices[Mesh] OR wearable*[tw] OR nearable*[tw] OR "fitness tracker*"[tw] OR “ambulatory monit*”[tw] OR "mobile data"[tw] OR "mobile technol*"[tw] OR "mobile health technol*"[tw]) AND ("cardiovascular agents"[mesh] OR "cardiovascular diseases"[mesh] OR Cardiovascular[tw] OR cardiac[tw] OR "heart rate*"[tw] OR electrocardiography[mesh] OR Electrocardiogram*[tw] OR arrhythmia*[tw] OR tachycardia[tw] OR ECG[tw] OR EKG[tw])
Step 2:
Copy and paste the search into the PubMed search box.
Example 3:
How can I find current University of Michigan Faculty across campus working focused on mobile health technologies and physical activity related topics?
Step 1:
Construct the search by copying the Dimensions Analytics for U-M BASIC AND BROAD MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES strategy and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY strategy and combining with: AND
(wearable* OR nearable* OR "fitness tracker*" OR “ambulatory monit*” OR "mobile data" OR "mobile technol*" OR "mobile health technol*") AND (exercise OR "physical activity" OR running OR walking OR swimming OR climb* OR "activ* time" OR "step count" OR ("heart rate" AND zone ) OR (wheelchair* AND (propulsion OR push*)) or gait OR "time sitting" OR "time standing" OR "time walking" OR (stair* AND climb*) OR "rest time")
Step 2:
Copy and paste into the Dimensions Analytics for U-M Search Box and choose to search in the FULL TEXT or TITLE/ABSTRACT
Additional Use Cases
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I am interested in…
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Strategy
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Broad searches to help me gain an overview of a topic
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Conduct your search in PubMed and then filter your results to REVIEW articles
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I need to focus my searches! The results in PubMed are too broad.
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Replace the search field [tw] with [ti].
Instead of searching the title, abstract and author supplied keywords, it will search for the terms in the TITLE field.
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Searching for a mobile health technology measure in a domain of interest
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Dimensions Analytics for U-M searches within the full text of a large majority of articles. Your measure may not be mentioned in an article’s title or abstract, so this database is a good option. You can add your measure(s) at the end of the search. Example:
(wearable* OR nearable* OR "fitness tracker*" OR “ambulatory monit*” OR "mobile data" OR "mobile technol*" OR "mobile health technol*") AND (sleep* OR apnea OR insomnia OR wakeful* OR wake OR "time in bed" OR nap OR naps) AND (onset OR midpoint)
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I am looking for current University of Michigan collaborators and mentors that might be working in my mobile technology areas of interest?
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Use the Dimensions Analytics for U-M search strategies.
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I am looking for University of Michigan researchers, and I don't care if they are currently here or not
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Conduct your search in PubMed and add an affiliation search to the end of your search. You can do this by adding the following to the end of your search strategy:
AND "university of michigan"[Affiliation]
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Where are some additional starting points for identifying literature?
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The Taubman Health Sciences Library has a wide variety of subject guides to quickly direct you to relevant databases.
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What if I want to talk to someone who can help me refine my searches?
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If you have additional questions, or would like assistance with tailored searches, please contact: Judy Smith (judsmith@umich.edu)
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About the Author
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Judy Smith is an Informationist at the Taubman Health Sciences Library, whose primary liaison areas include the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), and the Department of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health. Judy provides training and consultations for the health sciences community on grant-seeking tools, and publication-based measures and additional indicators to demonstrate research impact.
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