1. Searching PubMedSearching PubMed
Nancy LittleNancy Little
D’Amour Library, WNEUD’Amour Library, WNEU
April 15, 2014April 15, 2014

2. AgendaAgenda
What is PubMed?What is PubMed?
How to access PubMed?How to access PubMed?
Keyword searching.Keyword searching.
Basic Search & Advanced searching.Basic Search & Advanced searching.
Results sorting.Results sorting.
Filters.Filters.
Abstract & Link to article.Abstract & Link to article.
Search details.Search details.
More help with PubMed.More help with PubMed.

3. What is PubMed?What is PubMed?
PubMed is a database of over 23 million articlePubMed is a database of over 23 million article
citations that is freely available to everyone.citations that is freely available to everyone.
PubMed provides access to articles publishedPubMed provides access to articles published
in MedLine.in MedLine.
Includes links to full-text articles.Includes links to full-text articles.

4. What is MEDLINE?What is MEDLINE?
MEDLINE is the premier bibliographic databaseMEDLINE is the premier bibliographic database
of references in biomedical and life sciencesof references in biomedical and life sciences
journals from 1940 to the present.journals from 1940 to the present.
MEDLINE uses MeSH (Medical SubjectMEDLINE uses MeSH (Medical Subject
Headings).Headings).
MEDLINE is also available through D’AmourMEDLINE is also available through D’Amour
Library (requires login).Library (requires login).

5. How to access PubMedHow to access PubMed
Access PubMed through the D’Amour LibraryAccess PubMed through the D’Amour Library
website and you will be linked to articles thatwebsite and you will be linked to articles that
are available through the library as well.are available through the library as well.
You can also search PubMed directly:You can also search PubMed directly:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

6. Keyword SearchingKeyword Searching
Search PubMed by using only keywords.Search PubMed by using only keywords.
Don’t use Boolean. By default PubMed usesDon’t use Boolean. By default PubMed uses
Boolean operator AND. If you use Boolean itBoolean operator AND. If you use Boolean it
must be in caps.must be in caps.
For example: you have to write a paper aboutFor example: you have to write a paper about
grapefruit and how it interacts with prescriptiongrapefruit and how it interacts with prescription
drugs.drugs.
Keywords:Keywords:grapefruit drug interactionsgrapefruit drug interactions..

7. Grapefruit DrugGrapefruit Drug
InteractionsInteractions
Grapefruit or grapefruit juice increases theGrapefruit or grapefruit juice increases the
absorption of prescription drugs. Too much ofabsorption of prescription drugs. Too much of
the medication stays in your system.the medication stays in your system.
More information:More information:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdathttp://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdate

8. PubMed: Basic SearchPubMed: Basic Search
BAsBAsBAsBAs
Enter your searchEnter your search
terms here and clickterms here and click
search.search.
Enter your searchEnter your search
terms here and clickterms here and click
search.search.

9. KeywordsKeywords
Your keywords for this sample search are:Your keywords for this sample search are:
grapefruit drug interaction.grapefruit drug interaction.

10. Use Auto-completeUse Auto-complete
From this listFrom this list
you can selectyou can select
the terms tothe terms to
search.search.
From this listFrom this list
you can selectyou can select
the terms tothe terms to
search.search.

11. Searching PubMedSearching PubMed
Tips for making searching PubMed easier:Tips for making searching PubMed easier:
Use auto-complete.Use auto-complete.
Don’t use boolean operators (and, or, not).Don’t use boolean operators (and, or, not).
PubMed is smart and will do it for you. If you do,PubMed is smart and will do it for you. If you do,
must be in caps.must be in caps.
Don’t use truncation symbols like * that youDon’t use truncation symbols like * that you
would normally use in other databases.would normally use in other databases.

12. Advanced searchAdvanced search
Use advanced search to build a search.Use advanced search to build a search.

13. TruncationTruncation
You can use truncation to shorten a word.You can use truncation to shorten a word.
Use the * symbol.Use the * symbol.
If you use truncation in PubMed it shuts offIf you use truncation in PubMed it shuts off
the automatic mapping and automaticthe automatic mapping and automatic
explosion of MeSH terms.explosion of MeSH terms.
To include mapping to MeSH, do notTo include mapping to MeSH, do not
truncate.truncate.
Limits results to 600 items.Limits results to 600 items.

14. Results:Results:
Display settings: in summaryDisplay settings: in summary
format, 20 per page, and sortedformat, 20 per page, and sorted
by recently added.by recently added.
Display settings: in summaryDisplay settings: in summary
format, 20 per page, and sortedformat, 20 per page, and sorted
by recently added.by recently added.

15. More about ResultsMore about Results
Page:Page:
Summary format: Title, authors, Date,Summary format: Title, authors, Date,
pagination, vol./issue, Journal title abbreviation.pagination, vol./issue, Journal title abbreviation.
20 items per page (can adjust).20 items per page (can adjust).
Recently added items first. Can also change toRecently added items first. Can also change to
relevancy.relevancy.
To see abstract, click title.To see abstract, click title.

16. FiltersFilters
On the left side of the screen you’ll find optionsOn the left side of the screen you’ll find options
to filter your search results byto filter your search results by Article Types, TextArticle Types, Text
Availability, and Publication Dates.Availability, and Publication Dates.
You can limit to free full text available.You can limit to free full text available.
In general, in the medical and science fields,In general, in the medical and science fields,
you’ll want to limit the publication dates to 5you’ll want to limit the publication dates to 5
years.years.

17. More FiltersMore Filters
Click “show moreClick “show more
filters”.filters”.
Additional filtersAdditional filters
available.available.

18. Free full-text availableFree full-text available
Filters areFilters are
applied on allapplied on all
subsequentsubsequent
searched untilsearched until
cleared.cleared.
Filters areFilters are
applied on allapplied on all
subsequentsubsequent
searched untilsearched until
cleared.cleared.
Results: Title, authors,Results: Title, authors,
date, pagination,date, pagination,
vol./issue, journal titlevol./issue, journal title
abbreviation.abbreviation.
Results: Title, authors,Results: Title, authors,
date, pagination,date, pagination,
vol./issue, journal titlevol./issue, journal title
abbreviation.abbreviation.

19. Free full-textFree full-text
Use the free full text filter.Use the free full text filter.
Articles are available for free from PubMedArticles are available for free from PubMed
Central (Free digital archive of biomed & lifeCentral (Free digital archive of biomed & life
sciences journal literature), free from publisher.sciences journal literature), free from publisher.
Remember to use link through D’Amour library.Remember to use link through D’Amour library.

20. Abstract & Link to ArticleAbstract & Link to Article

21. Full-text articleFull-text article
PDFPDF
availablavailabl
e here.e here.
PDFPDF
availablavailabl
e here.e here.

22. References with links toReferences with links to
PubMedPubMed
References pageReferences page
shows links toshows links to
other articles inother articles in
PubMed.PubMed.
References pageReferences page
shows links toshows links to
other articles inother articles in
PubMed.PubMed.

23. Too Many Results?Too Many Results?
You can narrow your search.You can narrow your search.
Use filters on the left.Use filters on the left.
Add more keywords to be more specific.Add more keywords to be more specific.

24. Too few results?Too few results?
If your search terms results in too fewIf your search terms results in too few
results, click related citations on the rightresults, click related citations on the right
side.side.

25. Search DetailsSearch Details
You can see how PubMed interpreted yourYou can see how PubMed interpreted your
search by looking at the Search Details on thesearch by looking at the Search Details on the
right side of the screen.right side of the screen.
PubMed uses MeSH (Medical SubjectPubMed uses MeSH (Medical Subject
Headings) terms as well as Boolean operatorsHeadings) terms as well as Boolean operators
to search.to search.
Click see more for more details.Click see more for more details.
From here you can edit your search.From here you can edit your search.

26. ClipboardClipboard
You can save citations to a clipboard.You can save citations to a clipboard.
Check boxes next to the citations you wantCheck boxes next to the citations you want
to save.to save.
Click “send to” and select Clipboard.Click “send to” and select Clipboard.

27. ClipboardClipboard
Can save up to 500 citations from one orCan save up to 500 citations from one or
several searches.several searches.
Deletes citations after 8 hours of inactivity.Deletes citations after 8 hours of inactivity.

28. ClipboardClipboard
Tells you how many items were added to theTells you how many items were added to the
clipboard.clipboard.

29. ClipboardClipboard

30. Email CitationsEmail Citations
To email citations,To email citations,
click send to.click send to.
Select email.Select email.
Complete the form.Complete the form.

31. PubMed HelpPubMed Help
For more helpFor more help
with usingwith using
PubMed, usePubMed, use
the Quick Startthe Quick Start
guide or do aguide or do a
tutorial.tutorial.
For more helpFor more help
with usingwith using
PubMed, usePubMed, use
the Quick Startthe Quick Start
guide or do aguide or do a
tutorial.tutorial.

32. PubMed HelpPubMed Help
Lots of tutorials are available!Lots of tutorials are available!
You can always ask a librarian for help!You can always ask a librarian for help!

33. Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?