This document provides an introduction to searching the biomedical engineering literature and research methods. It discusses identifying appropriate sources for biomedical engineering information, developing effective search strategies, and keeping track of research using citation management software. Databases that can be searched are compared, and examples of developing search strategies in PubMed, Web of Science, and Compendex are provided. Key concepts like keywords, subject headings, and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) are explained.

1. Searching the literature:
An introduction to library
resources and research
methods
BMDE 500 – Seminars in biomedical engineering
Andrea Miller-Nesbitt
Liaison Librarian
andrea.miller-nesbitt

2. Objectives
By the end of this class you will be able to:
1. Identify appropriate sources in which to find
biomedical engineering information
2. Understand how to create and execute an effective
search
3. Keep track of your research using email alerts and
citation management software

3. Off campus access
http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-using/connect

4. Citation management software
• Import references
from library catalogue
and databases
• Store, organize, and
format your references
• Create bibliographies
with Microsoft Word

5. Course guide

6. The research cycle
Lab notebooks, grey
literature, data
Develop
an idea
Encyclopedias, Present Conference
Generalize preliminary
Textbooks research papers
Integrate
Report Theses and
Books Research dissertations
Publish
Research
Journal Articles

7. Grey literature
"That which is produced on all
levels of government, academics,
business and industry in print and
electronic formats, but which is
not controlled by commercial
publishers"
The Fourth International Conference on Grey Literature, (Luxembourg, 1997)
(i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the
producing body.)

8. Database Comparison
Database Subject areas Dates Types of information indexed
covered
PubMed Biomedicine and health care 1946 to Journals
present
Compendex All aspects of engineering 1884 to Journals, dissertations, patents
present (pre 1970)
IEEE Various aspects of 1872 to Journals, standards, graphs and
engineering, includes present diagrams
standards
Materials A series of materials 1965 to Journals, technical reports,
Research engineering databases present patents, press releases, trade
Database journals
SciFinder All aspects of chemistry 1907 to Journals, patents, regulatory
present information, commercial
information, chemical data
NCBI Entrez A series of linked 1980’s to Biological data, linked to PubMed
bioinformatics databases present
Web of Multidisciplinary 1899 to Journals, patents
Science present
Scopus Multidisciplinary 1960’s to Journals, dissertations, trade
present journals

9. Sample search – Web of Science
You are interested in the use of hydrogels for the
regeneration of cardiac muscle.
Cardiac Tissue
Hydrogels
muscle regeneration

10. Developing a search strategy
• Start with your first concept
“cardiac muscle”
• Combine any synonyms with OR
”cardiac muscle” OR “cardiac tissue” OR heart
• Repeat for your second, or any subsequent concepts
hydrogel*
“tissue regeneration” OR “myocardial regeneration”
• Finally, group your concepts with brackets and combine
with AND
(”cardiac muscle” OR “cardiac tissue” OR heart) AND (“tissue regeneration” OR
“myocardial regeneration”) AND hydrogel*

11. Sample search - PubMed
You are interested in ways to relieve pressure for
people using lower-limb prosthetics
Lower limb Prosthetics Pressure

12. Keyword vs. Subject Heading
Keyword Subject Heading
“natural language” “controlled vocabulary”
Database will search multiple fields Database will search descriptor field
May not be the focus of the article Process involves humans, so results will be
more relevant
Does not take the meaning of the word Meaning of the word is considered
into account ex. mouse (rodent) vs. mouse (computer
mouse)
Can yield irrelevant results Standard list of terms defines related
synonyms
Necessary if database does not have a Different in each database
controlled vocabulary, or if subject
heading does not exist for your term

13. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Cancer
Tumor
Tumour Neoplasms/
Neoplasm
Neoplasms
25,588
MeSH terms

14. Sample search - Compendex
You’re interested in the influence of sound wave
distortion on various biomedical ultrasound applications
Sound wave Ultrasound
distortion applications

15. MyResearch Graduate Seminar Series
• Module 1: EndNote Essentials
• Module 2: Graduate Research tool Kit
• Module 3: Search Strategies and Techniques
• Module 4: Getting Your Research Out

16. Questions?
Andrea Miller-Nesbitt
Liaison Librarian
andrea.miller-nesbitt@mcgill.ca
514.398.1663
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