1. PubMed
Database Searching
Baylor Health Sciences Library
Created by Mary Sarkes

2. Baylor Health Sciences Library
E-Resources
BHSL Website: http://library.bcd.tamhsc.edu/
Note: The library’s link appears under Clinical Links on the MyBaylor website.
The library may be accessed through BCD’s Exchange website.

3. PubMed
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?otool=txbcdlib
• Date Range: 1945-Present
• Over 23 million citations
– Medicine
– Dentistry
– Nutrition
– Nursing and allied health professions
– Links to integrated NCBI molecular biology and chemical databases
MEDLINE is the authoritative bibliographic database of the National Library of
Medicine, delivering comprehensive scientific records to articles in the biomedical
and life sciences. Coverage is extensive and international in scope.

4. PubMed Keyword Searching
• In search box on main page:
hypertension
Searching by keyword means PubMed is looking through its
bibliographic records (title, abstract, author, journal name, etc.) for
the exact term you’ve entered.

5. PubMed Results Page
Next Step: Filters
Note: Brackets around
a title means article is
not in English

6. Focus Search Through Limits
• Click on Show Additional Filters
Focusing helps you…
a) Obtain a more manageable number of citations to review.
b) Retrieve more relevant articles.

7. Applied Filters
Note: Select the following Filters
Filter options also include types of article, search fields, ages and gender.
Results of
focusing
search.

8. More Than One Keyword?
• Use Boolean operators to connect keywords
– AND (combine terms and narrow search)
– OR (combine terms and expand search)
– NOT (exclude terms and narrow search)
Commands:
AND = (both)
OR = (either)
NOT = (without)
(A) AND (B) (A) OR (B) (A) NOT (B)
Capitalize
Commands

9. Combining Keywords
• Sample Search Question:
– Need meta analyses examining hypertension and diabetes in women.
• In search box on main page:
hypertension AND diabetes
Search combines terms diabetes AND hypertension and retrieves information that contains both keywords.
Note: Command capitalized
Search Tip 1: Use filters, instead of
keywords, for age groups or gender if
they are a component of your search
question.
Search Tip 2: Use filters, instead
of keywords, for article types if they
are a component of your search
question.

10. More Than One Keyword Search cont.
Note: Filters from previous search were still in place…when needed, click Clear to deactivate and alter limits
Add the following Filters:
-Publication Date (last 5 years)
-Article Type: Meta Analysis
-Gender: Female
Our results have now been
focused to meta analyses
examining hypertension and
diabetes in women.

11. Tips on Keyword Searching
• Use an * at the end of a search term to search
multiple variations of a word
– e.g. -> catheter* retrieves catheterize, catheterization,
catheters, etc.
• Use quotation marks when searching for an exact
phrase
– e.g. -> “traumatic brain injury”

12. Subject Searching: MeSH Database
Found under More Resources on PubMed’s main page
Use MeSH Database to search by subject terms

13. Subject Searching: MeSH Database
• MeSH = Medical Subject Headings
• Focused and direct searching method that delivers relevant
search results
– Saves time
– Allows you to better understand the scope of literature in a subject area
Human indexers read an article, identify its main topics, and assign standardized
subject headings (MeSH terms) to the record.
Searching by subject terms means the database exclusively searches MeSH
headings and only retrieves records that contain the subject terms you’ve entered.
Next: Keyword vs. Subject Searching…

14. Keyword vs. Subject
Next: Using MeSH
Keyword (Pros) Keyword (Cons)
Useful when no subject heading exists Often yields too many results
Allows for flexible method of searching Articles retrieved may not be on-point
Useful when research topic is very new/obscure Multiple spellings for a word is a problem
(e.g. anesthesia vs. anaesthesia)
Useful for in-process or ahead of print articles
that do not yet have subject headings assigned
Acronyms and synonyms are a problem
Subject (Pros) Subject (Cons)
Efficient and precise searching method Requires users to learn database’s vocabulary
Results retrieved are highly relevant Only searches subject field
Produces manageable number of results User relies on indexers to properly assign
subject headings
Allows use of subheadings to focus search
Useful if article has no abstract

15. MeSH Database
•Sample Search Question:
What is being done in nursing to prevent patient
accidental falls ?
•Key Concepts:
1. Accidental Falls (main concept)
↓
(Prevention)
2. Nursing

16. Entering First MeSH Term
(Refer to detailed image in next slide)
• Enter first term into search box: accidental falls
– A match appears. (Make sure Display setting is on Full.)
• Prevention and control appears as subheading. Click
box to left of term.
– Heading and subheading are now coordinated
• Restrict Search to MeSH Major Topic Heading
– Ensures subject terms are primary focus of search results
• Select: Add to Search Builder
1.
2.
3.
4.

17. 1.
3.
2. 4.

18. Combining MeSH terms
(Refer to detailed image in next slide)
• Now enter second term into search box: Nursing
– A list of subject terms ordered by relevancy appears. (Make
sure Display setting is on Full.)
• Select Nursing MeSH heading by checking box to
left of term.
• Select: Add to Search Builder
• Search complete. Click Search PubMed
1.
2.
3.
4.

19. 1.
2.
4.
Note: Make sure to delete first
term before entering second
Note: Set Display setting to Full
3.

20. Subject Searching: Results
Added Filters: English, Pub. last 3 years and Nursing Journals
Hint: If too few results are
found then rerun search w/o
restricting to Major topic
heading

21. Viewing PubMed Results: Abstracts
•Click on Display Settings (above
results) and select Abstract.
•Change the number of items
displayed and sort them.
•Click Apply.
Found a good article?
Click on Related
articles to find more
of the same.
Articles are ordered
by relevancy.
Found a good article?
Click on Publication Types, MeSH Terms to view the
article’s assigned subject headings.
Try these new MeSH Terms in your next search. (This is
especially useful if you are keyword searching.)

22. PubMed Clipboard
• Check boxes to left of citations/abstracts
• Click on the Send to option, and select Clipboard.
• Click Add to Clipboard.
Collect selected citations and send to clipboard for later action
(e.g. print, save and email).
Items in Clipboard are saved for 8 hours

23. PubMed Clipboard cont.
On Results page…
In Clipboard…
Note: Use your web browser's Print command to print citations.
Here you can email your
citations, send them to your
collections, or save them
to a file.
The # of selected
citations sent to
Clipboard
appears in a
green box above
results.
Click Items to go to
Clipboard page

24. Finding and Printing Full-Text Articles in PubMed
• Find and click the for full text access to article
Baylor holdings are checked for the item.
If electronic full-text is available, then hyperlinks are provided to that article.

25. No Electronic Full-Text…
•Advanced Option:
• Check print holdings: Baylor’s in-house journal collection is checked.
No luck there?
•Document may be ordered from another library via Get It For Me
Free service
Online request form available:
http://library.bcd.tamhsc.edu/ill/
Print request form also available at Library’s Circulation Desk

26. My NCBI Account
• Benefits
– Save collection of favorite citations
– Save search strategies
– Highlight search terms
– Create custom tabs
– Share favorite collections
Sign into My
NCBI account

27. Search History
• Click on Advanced to view your search history
Viewing your Search
History helps you plan
your next search move…

28. Details
• Click See More for more search details
Viewing Search Details
helps you understand how
PubMed interpreted your
search.
This is an especially useful
tool during keyword
searching.

29. • In Filters panel go to Article types
– Select the appropriate study type…
Evidence-Based Literature in PubMed
Note: Scroll for additional Publication Types.
Click on more to
see all Article type
options.

30. Evidence-Based Literature in PubMed cont.
Found under PubMed Tools on PubMed’s main page
Use Clinical Queries to find high-level evidence studies
Clinical Study Categories:
Therapy
Diagnosis
Etiology
Prognosis.
Filters:
Broad = sensitive search
Narrow = specific search
Results of single search filtered into 3 clinical research areas:
Clinical Study Categories, Systematic Reviews, and Medical Genetics

31. Single Citation Matcher
Found under PubMed Tools on the database’s main page.
Use it to retrieve a specific citation
Enter article’s bibliographic information.
Automatic journal title suggestions are provided.

32. Helpful Search Hints
• Develop a clearly defined question
– Use the PICO Method to formulate question:
• Problem/Patient – Intervention – Comparison - Outcome
– Write down the question
– Identify and circle key concepts
• Start out broad with search then focus through filters
• Keep a list of MeSH terms and keywords while searching
• Review your Search Details and Search History

33. PubMed Tutorials
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmedtutorial/
If you would like database training please contact the
Baylor Health Sciences Library at
214 828 8151