Roy BrownEducation and Research Librarian

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, VCU Libraries

Searching PubMed

Search Box / Keyword Search

Links to Tutorials for further help on how to

use the database.

Always access through VCU Libraries Home Page or a Research Guide in order to be linked to full

text resources, etc.

Keyword Search:Anytime you type something in the box in PubMed you are keyword searching

Number of articles returned

Articles in full text in

PubMed Central

Search Details

Filters: can add ones you feel

are useful

Keyword Search

Use the display setting to change the way you are able to view your results – Recommend the abstract setting - Only display setting where you can see abstract and

Advanced – Where you will find the search history

Abstract Format Display

PMID # : unique number assigned to each PubMed citation. Can be placed in

search box to find the article.

MeSH Heading for Article: can use to find related articles and also further focus your search.

Related Citations: will find some systematic reviews here.

Limit categories: Author name or Journal title Dates Humans, Gender, Languages, Age groups Subsets: Journal groups or Topics Publication type

Systematic Review - Subsets Specific search fields

Limits remain in force until they are clearedLimits appear on the results page.

Limits : Give focus to the search

Limits

Appears on the results page, after doing a search

Shows Limits Applied / Stay on Until Removed

Tutorial: You Tube Video Link

Access to Search History

Advanced Search/Search History :

Search History: •Keeps a list of search statements• Search numbers: can be combined• Search statements• Link to results set for each search

•Maximum of 100 search statements•Deleted after 8 hours of inactivity

Will search combined terms & show articles

Will add combined terms to history

Combine using the Boolean operators (Drop down box appears after clicking on number)

Combining Term Results

Search Strategy

Search Details:

Details of how the search was

carried out

Medline’s controlled vocabulary: list of preferred subject terms Revised every year since 1963 / over 25,00 descriptors today

Tree structure: hierarchy of terms Allows different levels of search specificity

Search by MeSH terms to find related articles on a subject, regardless of the exact words the author used Ex: Articles on Multiple Personality Disorder, Multiple Identity Disorder,

Dissociative Identity Disorder or Dual Personality are all indexed under the MeSH term Multiple Personality Disorder

Two Parts:Headings: Main Subject / Focus Subheadings: limit search to specific aspects

of subject headings

Searching with MeSH: Medical Subject Headings

Using the MeSH Database

Can be accessed on main page

Also can be accessed on the advanced search page

(At the top of the page)

MeSH Database

Tutorials will help and are available at anytime

Search bar: just type in the term you are searching for and either that term or related terms will show up in the results.

MeSH Database searches for the controlled vocabulary term, not articles. These terms will help you to find the articles needed.

MeSH Database Results

If you click on the term you will see the scope note and rest of the heading record.

Select term & select add to search builder & can

then send to search builder or add more

terms to your search.

Click in check box in order to select term

MeSH Term Entry

Other terms indexed to this term. Typing any of these terms in the box will bring up the selected MeSH term as the most relevant.

MeSH hierarchy/ Tree• Broad to Specific

Scope Note : Term definition

Major Topic / Stop the term from being exploded

Subheadings

Using MeSh Database

When you have created your search in MeSH, click Search

PubMed

Boolean Operators

Click on add to search builder once you have found the right term for your search

Using MeSh Database

Search statement has been transferred to PubMed and executed

Click here to see how the articles

was indexed

See MeSH terms

and other

information related

to this citation

MeSH Terms Displayed in Article Citation

Useful way of finding more terms to add to your search in order to get more relevant results.

* Means major subject heading

PubMed Tutorial

PubMed Quick Tour Video Series from the NLM (Click Here)

My NCBICreating a Personal Account for PubMed

Sign up for free individual account Save searches Run updates of your saved searches Set up automatic e-mail search updates Store citations for future use in Collections Set Filters and Preferences Set up Bibliography to collect Pub Med citations that you

have authored

My NCBI

Access NCBI account or Register for NCBI account

My NCBI

Click here to register for an account

NCBI: Sign Up Screen

• Be sure that when you select a user name and password that you do not use your eID and

password. • Recommend you use your VCU email address

when asked for it in registering for an account.

My NCBI Account Screen

Where saved searches appear.

Click here to set NCBI Preferences

My NCBI

Options - when signed in to My NCBIChange display format for Links menuSave an e-mail address for sending resultsChange format when displaying single citationsChoose to highlight search words in results

Preferences in My NCBI

Preferences

Suggested Settings:• Default Format – Abstract • 100 items per page

My NCBI : Preferences

Saving a Search

Must first go to Advanced SearchBuilder

Click here to save

Saving a Search

Two Choices:1) Can just save the search by

clicking on save2) Set up a search alert, where the

search will be run when you are not logged in and results sent to

you as often as you choose.

Get in touch with Me…..

Roy Brown, MLIS Education and Research Librarian

Tompkins-McCaw Library, VCU Libraries rebrown2@vcu.edu / Ph. 804-828-1592

If You Need Help……..