MEDLINEMEDLINE
ON OVID
What you need to startWhat you need to start On campus:
– Library registration (at library counter)– Network registration (at library counter)– Medline OVID passwords (from information
specialists)– Ask for training sessions if you still feel
uncomfortable searching MedlineOff campus:– Library registration & OVID Medline passwords
BackgroundBackground
A biomedical databaseCovering years since 1966Indexing journals only± 4000 journals indexedInternational coverage
Type in passwords for accessType in passwords for access
Get passwords from library
General OVID information. Click on General OVID information. Click on continue.continue.
Choose a databaseChoose a database
Medline can be searched in different time Medline can be searched in different time periodsperiods
Latest 5 years
most popular
For starters!For starters!
– Specify your topic– Break up your topic in its different parts
if more than one– Start searching the parts or terms one by
one– After searching the different terms, you
will combine them logically
Type in the first part of your topicType in the first part of your topic
MESHMESH
Medical Subject HeadingsAn alphabetical list of medical termsMESH makes efficient searching easy for
everyone
Advantages of MESHAdvantages of MESH
– Automatic cross-referencing from non-MESH to MESH terms
– Cover British/American spelling– Include singular/plural terms– Include synonyms– MESH terms link to subheadings– MESH terms will take you step-by-step through
database searching on OVID
Your typed-in subject term will be “mapped” to a Your typed-in subject term will be “mapped” to a MESH termMESH term
EXPLODEEXPLODE– MESH terms are organised into tree structures– The TREE structure arranges MESH terms into
broader and narrower terms– Medline has an EXPLODE function which enable
you to use a broader term while simultaneously include all its narrower terms
– Enable the EXPLODE function by clicking on the EXPLODE block at the right side of your MESH term
Click in this box to explode
FOCUSFOCUS
– Medline has the powerful function of focusing
– Focusing means to throw out less important articles
– You can restrict your MESH term to the most important articles on that topic by clicking in the FOCUS block at the far right side of your MESH term
Click in this box to focus
The information icon shows a scope note of the The information icon shows a scope note of the MESH termMESH term
SubheadingsSubheadings
– Subheadings enable searching on specific aspects of your topic eg diagnosis, etiology, economics or epidemiology
– You can mark more than one subheading simultaneously
– Using subheadings = potent searching!
Choose one or more subheadings or none if so Choose one or more subheadings or none if so preferredpreferred
REMEMBERREMEMBER
MANAGEMENT OF A DISEASE:There are different subheading options to
cover the management of a disease.You can choose one or more subheadings
such as surgery, diet therapy, drug therapy, radiotherapy or even rehabilitation.
Type in the next part of your topicType in the next part of your topic
Each new term will take you through the Each new term will take you through the searching process againsearching process again
BOOELIAN LOGICBOOELIAN LOGICAND / OR / NOTAND / OR / NOT
OR
HEART DISEASES HYPERTENSION
BOOELIAN LOGICBOOELIAN LOGIC
AND
HEART DISEASES
HYPERTENSIONAND
BOOELIAN LOGICBOOELIAN LOGIC
NOT
HEARTDISEASES
NotCONGENITAL
HEARTDISEASES
Combine the two terms to articles containing Combine the two terms to articles containing bothboth
LIMIT functionLIMIT function– Medline covers veterinary sciences, all
languages, different publication types, all ages and the time period since 1966.
– The powerful LIMIT function enables you to limit your search to all of the above categories and more. You can limit eg to only human and English references.
– Limit to REVIEW articles– The LIMIT functions can be used by directly
marking the LIMIT blocks under the command bar or use the expanded function on the top of the screen (dart board icon)
Click on LIMIT icon
Limit your searchLimit your search
Clicl another box to limit other than last
set
Press Ctrl button to choose more than onePress Ctrl button to choose more than one
References will be displayed inReferences will be displayed in bibliographic bibliographic format under the search strategyformat under the search strategy
Mark your preferences for display and Mark your preferences for display and output formatoutput format
About 65% of the Medline database references About 65% of the Medline database references provide abstractsprovide abstracts
UP subscribes to UP subscribes to ± 70 full text journals on ± 70 full text journals on OVID. Click on OVID. Click on OvidOvid full text full text to see articleto see article
Full text article appears on screen in OVID Full text article appears on screen in OVID format. Saving or e-mailing an article in this format. Saving or e-mailing an article in this format, will loose the graphics and tables.format, will loose the graphics and tables.
Choose .pdf format if available. If not, click on Choose .pdf format if available. If not, click on print preview to change the graphics to a print preview to change the graphics to a
readable and printable format.readable and printable format.
Medline HELPMedline HELP
– On the Medical Library homepage: www.ais.up.ac.za/med/med.htm
You will find a link:
10 Ways to improve your Medline search
FEEL WELCOME TO ASK FEEL WELCOME TO ASK FOR HELPFOR HELP
Created by Myleen Oosthuizen June 2003