Learning Objectives
At the end of this session (and with a bit of practice) you will be able to search PubMed more effectively by:
- Using Limits to narrow a search
- Locating evidence-based research citations with Clinical Queries and Type of Article limits
- Keeping a record of your search strategy
- Modifying your search strategy for better search results
PubMed Background/Overview
Access from HealthLinks for UW specific enhancements
PubMed is the web portal to the MEDLINE database plus some other citations
MEDLINE indexes biomedical journal articles (1950-)
- Citations from more than 4800 journals
- Abstracts for more than 80% of citations
- International - all languages
- Links to full-text
- Updated daily
It is very easy to put words or phrases in the PubMed search box and retrieve some citations related to your topic. However there are features in the PubMed system and techniques you can use to search more effectively. Effective searching can mean that you save time and get more relevant/focused search results.
What is PubMed really doing when you put words or phrases in the search box?
- All words must be present (Boolean AND between words)
- 'Smart' search engine recognizes thousands of phrases
- Maps to indexing terms
- Translates search info format needed by the PubMed system
See Terry Jankowski's lecture notes on Secondary Resources for more information on constructing a search
Search Results - Handling Citations, Printing/Saving
- Choose Display formats: Summary (default); Abstract; AbstractPlus; Citation (abstract plus indexing terms); MEDLINE (complete record)
- Select Citations/Send to Clipboard:
Clipboard stores up to 500 citations to print or
download from multiple searches. - Change display options (page length, format, sort)
- Send via e-mail, Save to floppy or hard disk, Print, or save as RSS(news) feed
Printing: Use 'text' format to save paper.
Print using browser print command or copy into saved file.
Access full-text of articles
- UW Article Online button in PubMed Abstract, AbstractPlus or Citation Display.
- HealthLinks ejournals pages: If not available directly in PubMed open in second browser window.
- If not available electronically check the UW Libraries Catalog for print journals
note: A few journals require an additional password. On HealthLinks ejournals pages go to 'get passwords for UW restricted resources' or 'get password' after the journal name for link to available passwords.
Limits
Tab on Features Bar (below PubMed search box)
Limits remain in effect until the box to the left of 'Limits' on Features Bar is unchecked.
Using limits other than English language or date will eliminate very new (unindexed) or pre-1966 citations
History
Tab on Features Bar (below PubMed search box)
- Record Your Search Strategy
Print using browser print command or copy into saved file. - Building Block Searches
Place # before search statement number.
Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT in caps
Can use parentheses, limits, etc.
Find Evidence-Based Research
Clinical Queries and Systematic Reviews
Access from PubMed's navigation bar (left side of window; blue bar)
- Clinical Queries: Specialized search queries that limit results to research-based citations
- Systematic Reviews (SR): retrieve citations on any topic, not just clinical topics (uses explicit methods to identify, select, and critically evaluate relevant research. SRs combines results of independent studies and are not themselves primary literature.)
Limits - Type of Article
Tab on Features Bar (below PubMed search box)
Find More on a Topic
See Handout 'Improving Database Search Results' (healthlinks.washington.edu/howto/improving.html)
- Related articles: PubMed compares words from the title and abstract of each
citation as well as subject headings/indexing (MeSH) terms assigned, using a powerful word-weighted algorithm.
- Use additional/other search terms:
- Citation format: MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), terms assigned by indexers, are listed. Click MeSH term to search for topic.
- MeSH Database: 'official' subject terms used by indexers and see relationships between terms. Good for restricting search and choosing subheadings for regularly used areas of interest
Useful PubMed Services
- Single Citation Matcher: Use to verify citations or to complete partial citations
- Journals Database:
- Translate title abbreviation to complete title
- Link to all PubMed citations from journal
- Locate information on a journal
- Save Search Strategies:
- RSS Feed (SendTo pull-down list on results pages)
- MyNCBI: search strategies saved on PubMed server
- Search url obtained from Details: search strategies saved on local computer
Additional Help
- PubMed at the UW (Search tips; includes links to videos on search techniques)
healthlinks.washington.edu/howto/pubmed/ - Overview, Help, FAQ, and Tutorial (access from PubMed left-hand navigation bar, Entrez PubMed section)
- Improving Database Search Results
healthlinks.washington.edu/howto/improving.html
Work smart. Save time. Ask us!
Leilani St. Anna, MLIS, AHIP
Information Management Librarian
lstanna@u.washington.edu
healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/liaisons/stanna/
Revised: October 2006
This page may be reprinted or adapted for academic nonprofit purposes, providing the source
is accurately quoted and credited.
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/liaisons/stanna/pharm309_pubmed.html