|
Start with a simple subject search, being as specific as you can.
EXAMPLE: dry mouth cpap ventilation
|
- PubMed automatically translates terms into controlled vocabulary (Medical Subject Headings, or MeSH terms) whenever possible.
- A search for
dry mouth cpap ventilation will find results that include dry mouth and its corresponding MeSH term xerostomia, as well as cpap ventilation and its MeSH term continuous positive airway pressure. Note: PubMed does not know how to translate cpap alone (without the word ventilation), but it will still search for cpap as a keyword.
|
|
Author search: Lastname FM [au]
EXAMPLE: Smith JB [au]
|
- First names are included in PubMed only for references added since 2002.
- Greatest accurate retrieval using last name and 2 initials.
|
|
Title search: Use the code [ti]
EXAMPLE: fissure sealants [ti]
|
- Good way to narrow your list of results if you don’t need to be comprehensive.
|
|
Truncation: Use the asterisk symbol * at the end of a word
EXAMPLE: isolat*
(retrieves isolate, isolated, isolating, isolation, etc.)
|
- Allows for different forms of a word, such as plurals, British spellings, or different verb tenses.
- Warning: Using the asterisk prevents PubMed from automatically translating your search to MeSH terms.
|
|
Combine terms using AND, OR, NOT (capitalized)
EXAMPLE: (pharmacogenetics OR pharmacogenomics) AND (hepatitis C)
|
- Include synonyms with OR.
- Tell PubMed where one concept ends and another begins by using AND.
- Enclose each concept in a set of parentheses.
|
|
Phrase search: Enclose a phrase in quotation marks
EXAMPLE: “single cell”
EXAMPLE: “data driven”
|
- Useful if there is no good MeSH term.
- Also useful for locating very recent, unindexed references.
- Only retrieves references where your exact phrase is used.
- Not comprehensive. Only works for select, frequently occurring phrases.
- Warning: Will interfere with PubMed’s automatic term mapping.
|
| Apply filters: Common filters appear to the left of search results. Can be customized in My NCBI account settings. |
- Narrow your search by language, publication date, sex, age, full-text availability, and article type (clinical trial, review).
- Non-default filters can be found by expanding the Additional Filters area
|
| Search details: Found on Advanced Search page in Details column of search history |
- Shows exactly how your search strategy was interpreted by PubMed.
- Identify useful MeSH terms.
- See what went wrong if your search results are not what you expected.
- Edit the search details and rerun your search.
|
