Tip #18: How to Float a Subheading in EBSCO's CINAHL

by Andy Hickner

Like MEDLINE and Embase, CINAHL's thesaurus includes optional subheadings. The syntax is as follows: MW "[2-letter subheading abbreviation]". For example, the syntax for the floating subheading "prevention and control" is MW "PC" (you can substitute MJ if for some reason you want to search for this subheading only in combination with a major heading). Here's what this might look like in a search for articles about prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection:

The floating subheading is line S8, combined with equivalent keywords in S10, and finally combined with CAUTI elements in S11.

Further information: Advanced Searching with CINAHL® Subject Headings.

Update: A reader asked me where to find the list of available subheadings. As usual with EBSCOhost, it is incredibly difficult to locate the CINAHL Database Information, so I am copy-pasting the list here:

Code	Subheading
AB	Abnormalities
AM	Administration
AD	Administration and dosage
AE	Adverse effects
AA	Analogs and derivatives
AN	Analysis
AH	Anatomy and histology
AI	Antagonists and inhibitors
BL	Blood
CF	Cerebrospinal fluid
CI	Chemically induced
CL	Classification
CO	Complications
CT	Contraindications
DF	Deficiency
DI	Diagnosis
DU	Diagnostic use
DH	Diet therapy
DE	Drug effects
DT	Drug therapy
EC	Economics
ED	Education
EM	Embryology
EP	Epidemiology
ES	Equipment and supplies
EI	Ethical issues
EH	Ethnology
ET	Etiology
EV	Evaluation
FG	Familial and genetic
HI	History
IM	Immunology
IN	Injuries
IR	Innervation
LJ	Legislation and jurisprudence
MA	Manpower
ME	Metabolism
MT	Methods
MI	Microbiology
MO	Mortality
NU	Nursing
OG	Organizations
PA	Pathology
PD	Pharmacodynamics
PK	Pharmacokinetics
PH	Physiology
PP	Physiopathology
PO	Poisoning
PC	Prevention and control
PR	Prognosis
PF	Psychosocial factors
RE	Radiation effects
RA	Radiography
RT	Radiotherapy
RH	Rehabilitation
RF	Risk factors
ST	Standards
SN	Statistics and Numerical Data
SD	Supply and Distribution
SU	Surgery
SS	Symptoms
TU	Therapeutic use
TH	Therapy
TM	Transmission
TR	Transplantation
TD	Trends
US	Ultrasonography
UR	Urine
UT	Utilization