The Internet is changing the nature and speed of healthcare interaction between individuals and health organizations. Nowadays one in every 20 Google searches is related to health. A basic Google search will usually help you find what you are looking for; but for those times when it falls short, you will need to turn to some advanced search techniques. Here are six tips to help you zone in on the exact information you need next time you turn to Google.
Tip #1 Use The Exact Phrase
Using “quotation” marks around a phrase or name allows you to search for those exact words in that exact order, thereby excluding more common but less relevant results. This is especially useful if you’re trying to find results containing a specific phrase.
Tip #2 Exclude A Particular Term
Try expanding your search parameters by excluding certain words using the minus (-) symbol. This is useful when your search generates a lot of results that aren’t relevant to you. Re-run the search excluding the words that you don’t want to be included.
Tip #3 Search Using “OR”
By using the OR term you can search for web pages that might use one of several words.
E.g. competition OR match
Tip #4 Use An Asterix
The asterisk symbol * works as a wildcard within searches. It can be used in place of a missing word or part of a word when you are not sure what the entire phrase is.
Tip #5 Search Between Two Values
By using (..) in between a set of values you can search for results that include numbers within a range.
Tip #6 Search Related Sites
Find sites that are similar to a web address you already know.
Using these Google tricks will lead you to more focused searches in the future.
You might also like to read Dr. Google Turns 20: How Has It Changed Healthcare?
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