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Database tutorials

Systematic searching in MEDLINE

MEDLINE contains more than 30 million references to journal articles in life sciences with a concentration on biomedicine. MEDLINE's comprehensive search functionality allows the user to develop a complex but sensitive systematic literature search. It is the recommended database to finalise your search strategy before repeating the search in your other chosen health databases.                                                                    

Access to MEDLINE is via the University Library web page databases tab.

 

MEDLINE

Select the Bookmark at the bottom left of the tutorial to select a specific section.

 

Character used

Explanation

Usage example

Results

*

Truncates the word to include all possible word endings

gene*

gene, genes, genetics, and generation

* followed by number

Truncates the word but limits how many letters – indicated by the number

dog*1

Dog, dogs

(not dogma)

#

Stands for one letter that must be present

organi#ation

dog#

organisation, organization

dogs (not dog)

?

Stands for one letter that may or may not be present (spelling variants)

colo?r

color, colour


ADJn

The adjacency operator retrieves records that contain search terms within a specified number of words

(eating adj2 disorder*)

Eating disorder, disordered eating, eating and feeding disorder

NOT

Use NOT to exclude

1 NOT 3

All of the results from search 1 where the results from search 3 are not present

A comprehensive list of Medline searching tips is available here: https://ospguides.ovid.com/OSPguides/medline.htm#advanced

Create an account in OVID to save searches and set up alerts. This account will allow you to save your search for any database you are searching within the OVID environment, including PycInfo, Embase, Amed etc.. 

WARNING: Do not select and search mutiple databases or switch between databases when searching within the OVID environment.   Access each database individually to avoid skewing your results.  If you wish to systematically search both MEDLINE and PsycInfo,access from the library database page via the specific database link.

 

As you are working through the search, it is also recommended that you intermittently copy and paste the search history link into a word document, email or One Note, to click and rerun. Just in case you encounter technical difficulties during the process.

When you click on this link to rerun your search, you may receive a warning not to proceed. Move to advanced and override.

Manage and filter your results using EndNote or another referencing management system such as Zotero.

To export to EndNote:
1. Select All references
2. Select Export
3. Specify the content you want included (e.g., citation, abstract, subject headings, etc.)
4. Select Export
5. Click on the downloaded file 'ovidweb.cgi' and the references will be automatically added to your library.
6. Create a group folder for MEDLINE and move results to this folder. 

 

 

PubMed