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

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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:

example of floating subheadings in CINAHL

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 

 

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