Database

MEDLINE (OVID)

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.