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