MEDLINE (OVID)

Printable version

Introduction | Accessing | Searching | Search Results | Managing Search Results | Search Tips 

Introduction

MEDLINE contains the full content of Index Medicus, the International Nursing Index, and the Index to Dental Literature. It contains references to approximately 3,600 journals on medical research clinical practice administration policy issues healthcare services Subject areas covered by this database include clinical medicine, allied health, and biological and physical sciences. MEDLINE is available via EBSCOhost, First Search, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, and PubMed interfaces. In addition, NSU students, faculty and staff may access MEDLINE through the Ovid interface. Coverage dates from 1966 to present with regular updates–weekly (PubMed, Ovid, EBSCOhost), monthly (FirstSearch, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts).

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Databases page of the Electronic Resources section of the NSU Alvin Sherman Library website. For more on how to access databases visit http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/electroniclibrary/

Searching

To construct a search in MEDLINE type in your search topic in the entry box if you are entering, more than one word you may want to uncheck the Map Term to Subject Heading checkbox click the Search button Searching in MEDLINE.

Search Results

Search results will vary. If you get: No records matched your search, then check your spelling or the fields you searched in. Too many, then go back and limit your search. Sometimes a search needs to be modified with: additional search words, searching only a specific field, adding date limitations, or type of materials. Too few, then go back and expand your search. Consider synonyms for your search words or concepts. Try to use professional language or terminology. Irrelevant results, then try new search terms. Consider synonyms or related concepts. Identify and search using descriptors. Try a different database. Modify searches in MEDLINE by using one or more of the following enter multiple search terms or concepts combine terms using Boolean operators limit search terms using field searching refine searches with limiters, such as date, gender, age group, etc. Modifying a search screen in MEDLINE by using limits such as date. Results lists A list of search results matching your search terms will be displayed. Search results in MEDLINE. Because MEDLINE is not a full text database your search results will only list citations for items that matched your search–Abstract records will include a summary or abstract of the item or Complete Reference records will include detailed information about the item and may include a summary, but full text for the item will not be included. Records To view an item from the list of search results, select a record format or link click on Abstract to see the full citation and an abstract assigned to the item click on Complete Reference to see the full citation, an abstract and a list of subject headings assigned to the record click on Ovid Full Text to link to the full text article, when available in another Ovid database that the NSU Libraries subscribe to click on Library Catalog Holdings to check NovaCat to determine if the NSU Libraries subscribe to the journal in paper form, but does not determine if the journal is available full-text in a non-Ovid database Note: Not all record formats or links will be available for all items. The information in the Complete Reference, especially the abstract (summary) of the item and subject headings will help you best determine if you need the item. Sample record in Ovid MEDLINE showing a Complete Reference. Sample record in Ovid MEDLINE showing an Abstract.

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by marking or tagging records to select only the records that you want from your search results from later printing, emailing and/or saving printing the search results list and/or specific records emailing the search results list and/or specific records to your email address saving the search results list and/or specific records–some databases may allow you to save your file for export into commercial bibliographic citation manager software, such as EndNote or ProCite Not all search management features are available in all databases. The Results Manager, located at the end of every Results Display Page, allows you to manage your search results. Make selections from the options provided then print, email, or save (or export) as desired Results column–choose records to be be printed, emailed or saved Fields column–choose fields to be included selecting Citation + Abstract + Subject Headings is useful because you get the MeSH terms in your results Result Format column–leave Ovid as is, unless you are exporting the records to bibliographic management software (ex. Procite, Reference Manager) check the box to Include Search History–this will later help you to see how you did your search Action column–choose what to do with the records The Results Manager in Ovid MEDLINE. Marking The "mark" feature allows you to select records from within your search results. By marking items, you can print or email records at one time. To mark a record in the search results list, click in the check box to the left of a title in a Complete Reference or Abstract, click in the check box to the left of the citation number, towards the top of the screen Marking records in Ovid MEDLINE. To view your list of marked records in the Citation Manager, in the Results column, click in the Selected Results circle in the Fields column, select the desired fields in the Action column, click the Display button You may then email or print the citation information for the items you have selected–full-text will not be printed for marked items. Viewing a list of marked records in Ovid MEDLINE. Printing To print records specifiy your results, fields, and result format options in the Action column, select Print Preview use the print commands in your Internet browser to print the records Printing in Ovid MEDLINE. Emailing To email records specifiy your results, fields, and citation result options in the Action column, select Email type a valid email address–more than one email address may be entered, separated by a comma prompts for other options will appear when available Emailing a record in Ovid MEDLINE. Saving To save records specifiy your results, fields, and result format options in the Action column, select Save this invokes the browser’s save utility make selections based on options presented Saving in Ovid MEDLINE. Make selections based on options presented. To export records into bibliographic management programs (ex. Procite, Reference Manager) specifiy your Results options in the Fields column, select Complete Reference in the Result Format column, select Direct Export in the Action column, select Save make selections based on options presented

Search Tips

Use advanced search features to modify a search to obtain more successful search results. You can combine advanced search features to modify and improve your search. Advanced search features often include: phrase or proximity searching field searching date document and/or publication type Boolean operators plurals and truncation One useful tip when searching any electronic database is to leave out articles, prepositions, and very abstract or general terms–they confuse the database's search engine. For example, if the paper is on "The Impact of Mainstreaming Students in Math Classes,” use the most precise terms like mainstreaming and mathematics and skip impact, the, of, and in. Phrase or proximity searching In Ovid MEDLINE, there are two ways to search for a phrase type the words in the same entry box (Advanced Search mode) speech language child development put the phrase in double quotes, such as “speech language” “child development” Searching by phrase in Ovid MEDLINE. Field searching To limit your search to a specific field click on the Search Fields to display the Search Fields/Indexes screen if you have not already done so, type a word or phrase describing your topic in the entry box scroll to the field(s) to limit your search to click on the checkboxes for each field which should contain your term click the Perform Search button Field searching in Ovid MEDLINE. Date Searches may be limited to specific years on search screen pages or on the limit a search page by scrolling to the Publication Year section of the screen using the pull-down arrows to select a range of years (like 1995-2004) click the Limit Search button Limiting a search by date in Ovid MEDLINE. Publication type To limit to a specific type of document or publication go to the Limit screen go to the Publication Types section click on the name of the desired publication type to select multiple publication types, hold down the Shift, Ctrl or "Apple" key while selecting click the Limit Searh button Searching for specific document types in Ovid MEDLINE. This is particularly useful to narrow a search to only journal articles. In addition, the Journal Subsets list allows searches to be limited to journals focused on specific medical areas. Searching by journal subsets in Ovid MEDLINE. Boolean operators The Boolean operators, AND, OR, and NOT, can be used to combine searches and to apply search limits click on the Boolean operator to use Use AND to narrow a search. AND looks for both terms in the same record. leadership and vision; mainstreaming and science Use OR to broaden a search. OR looks for either term in the same record. mainstreaming or inclusion; elementary education or secondary education Use NOT to eliminate records with a certain term. Saturn not car; Venus not planet Boolean operators in Ovid MEDLINE. Plurals Use the following symbols in Ovid MEDLINE to locate plural forms, truncate search terms, or replace characters: $ Any number of characters at the end of a word. hear$ retrieves hear, hears, heard, hearing, heart $number Maximum number of characters. psych$5 retrieves psycho, psyche, psychology, psychiatry, but not psychobiology, psychologist, psychiatrist # One required character. wom#n retrieves both woman, women, womyn ? One or no characters. colo?r retrieves color, colour Truncating search terms in Ovid MEDLINE.