In theory, authors cite an item because it is relevant to the topic of their own work. Many library databases, including CINAHL and PubMed, provide a means to easily trace either citing items (written after an article is published), cited items (the bibliography or references list from the article itself), or both.
The original and best-known database for citation searching, covering nursing and many other disciplines, is Web of Science. Scopus also offers citation searching for a broad range of journals.
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Errata, notices of correction, and retractions alert readers to problems with a previously published article. Problems may range from minor proofreading errors to serious ethical breaches like plagiarism or falsified data.
PubMed records include notes about these problems and a citation to the published alert. It's also possible to search specifically for an erratum or retraction using the Article Type filter. CINAHL labels errata and retractions in results, but places the burden of connecting the original item with its erratum or retraction notice on searchers.
