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Accessibility and Disability

What is a controlled vocabulary?

Controlled Vocabulary is "a list of standard terms that categorize articles based on their content (such terms will vary from database to database)" (Aromataris and Riitano, 2014). Many, but not all, controlled vocabularies are organized by hierarchies. Depending on the database, when searching a controlled vocabulary term you can choose to "explode" it. Exploding is when you search the selected term and any that fall under it in the hierarchy. 

Citation: Aromataris, E., & Riitano, D. (2014). Systematic Reviews: Constructing a Search Strategy and Searching for Evidence. AJN The American Journal of Nursing114(5), 49. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000446779.99522.f6

Suggested Controlled Vocabulary for PubMed

  • PubMed/Medline Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):
    • People: "Caregivers"[Mesh] OR "Disabled Persons"[Mesh] OR "Disabled Children"[Mesh] OR "Persons with Mental Disabilities"[Mesh]
    • Disabilities: "Intellectual Disability"[Mesh] OR "Communication Disorders"[Mesh] OR "Dyslexia"[Mesh] OR "Learning Disabilities"[Mesh] OR "Developmental Disabilities"[Mesh] OR "Vision Disorders"[Mesh] OR "Anxiety Disorders"[Mesh] OR "Chronic Disease"[Mesh] OR "Autism Spectrum Disorder"[Mesh] OR "Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders"[Mesh]
    • Accomadations/Services: "Insurance, Disability"[Mesh] OR "Veterans Disability Claims"[Mesh] OR  "Medicare Part A"[Mesh] OR "Preexisting Condition Coverage"[Mesh] OR "Health Services for Persons with Disabilities"[Mesh] OR "Service Animals"[Mesh] OR OR "Long-Term Care"[Mesh]
    • Miscellaneous: "Disability Studies"[Mesh] OR "Education of Hearing Disabled"[Mesh] OR "Education of Visually Disabled"[Mesh] OR "Disability Evaluation"[Mesh] OR "International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health"[Mesh]