LibGuides: PubMed: In-Depth Tutorial: Overview

Head Library Systems

Email Me

Contact:

Head Library Systems,
Office No. 325
Directorate of Library Affairs,
Central Library - Building A3,
East Campus, IAU

Office Ext: 013 3332811

Subjects: Database Management Systems (DBMS), E-Resource Management, General, Library and Information Science, Library Systems, Library Technologies, Multidisciplinary, Operating Systems

attribution

This content was originaly adapted from “HOW TO SEARCH IN BIOMEDICAL DATABASES” (created in 2021 at NEOMED Library) by Simon Robins, which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. The content of the guide is imported from In-Depth Database Tutorial: PubMed by University of Dyton.

Step-by-Step PubMed Search Tutorial

We encourage students, researchers, and faculty members throughout IAU's campus to use the following detailed tutorial explaining how to search in PubMed according to EBM/EBP standards. Each of the following pages go in-depth with screenshots and how-to instructions for completing a search from start to finish. Whether you are aiming to find a relevant set of articles for an assignment or embarking on a comprehensive literature review, the following steps should help ensure that you find a relevant and comprehensive set of articles on your topic.

Please don't hesitate to contact myself at abmohammed@iau.edu.sa if you have any questions or need any guidance on using this tutorial, or if you would like to meet for a consultation to go over your search topic.

Contents (click on items to jump ahead)

Overview: Why should I use PubMed for evidence-based medicine and evidence-based practice?
How to access PubMed at UD
Before you start searching, keep in mind . . .
- Citation Management
- My NCBI Account
- PubMed's "Outside Tool" feature
- Saving you search strategy in a word document
Sample Search Topic & Objectives for PubMed Sample Search
Search Steps:
- Step #1: Identifying Search Concepts Using PICO
- Step #2: Controlled Vocabularies -- How to Locate & Use MeSH Terms
  - Locate the Controlled Vocabulary (MeSH term) for your concepts
  - Important notes to keep in mind when using MeSH terms
    - Hierarchical Arrangement
    - Focus vs. Explode
    - Major Headings
    - Subheadings
  - Adding MeSH terms to the search box
- Step #3: Locating & Using Keywords
  - How to find synonyms and be comprehensive
  - Applying field tags to keywords
  - Applying Boolean operators to keywords
- Step #4: Combining MeSH & Keywords with the Boolean Operator OR (Part 1)
  - Adding field tags and Boolean operators to search for Atorvastatin using MeSH terms and keywords at the same time
- Step #5: Combining MeSH & Keywords with with the Boolean Operator OR (Part 2)
  - Quick run-through for building a search string for memory loss using keywords and subject headings
  - Quick run-through for building a search string for females using keywords and subject headings
- Step #6: Combining all Search Elements (PICO) Using the Boolean Operator AND
- Step #7: Applying Filters & Adjusting your Initial Search
- Step #8: How to Access Full Text, Use Interlibrary Loan & Export Results to a Citation Manager
  - Accessing Full Text at the University of Dayton
  - Accessing Interlibrary Loan (ILL) from PubMed at the University of Dayton
  - Exporting Multiple Results from PubMed to citation management softwares, My NCBI & PubMed's Clipboard Feature
More Information . . .