my $sth = $dbh->prepare(
        "SELECT * FROM  my_table
         WHERE
           instr(description, :1) > 0
        OR instr(shortdescription, :1) > 0
        OR instr(name, :1) > 0"
      ) || die "Error: " . $dbh->errstr;
      $sth->execute($word) || die "Error: " . $dbh->errstr;