Quick Links
PubMed Quick Guide
QUICK GUIDE
How to Search l Limit Your Search l Add Other Terms l Combine Searches
View Article l Request Article l Email/Print/Save l Search Alerts l RSS Feeds
HOW TO SEARCH
Search from the PubMed opening search box page if:
Search from the MeSH Database if:
Your search starts with a broad subject, such as Diabetes, Stem Cells, or Transcription.
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Click MeSH Database in blue sidebar at left. (MeSH = Medical Subject Headings)
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Type your term in search box near top. Example: Caulobacter, Diabetes, etc.
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Click Go.
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If MeSH returns more than one heading, choose desired heading link.a. Click checkbox to choose all subheadings for that heading, or…b. Click link and choose specific subheadings from checkboxes; e.g., etiology, pathology, etc. Check box "Restrict Search to Major Topic headings only."
- From "Send To" dropdown menu, choose "Search Box with AND."
- Click "Search PubMed" just below search box. Or Add Other Terms (see below).
LIMIT YOUR SEARCH
Choosing Limits helps focus your search and keeps your results to a reasonable number:
- In PubMed, click Limits tab.
- Fill in any or all: Author, Journal, Dates limit boxes.
- Click checkboxes for all other limits you desire; e.g., Language, Gender, Human, Ages, etc. Type of Article: "Review" limits to overview articles.* Choosing a specific article type eliminates Editorials, Letters, and other possibly unwanted returns. You can choose more than one category.
- Click Go.
ADD OTHER TERMS
Before you click "Search PubMed":
- If new term has a MeSH heading, repeat "Search from the MeSH Database" with new term. From "Send To" dropdown menu, choose "Search Box with AND." The new search terms should now be added to your search box.
- Click "Search PubMed" just below search box.
- If new term does not have a MeSH heading: following the search terms you've already added to the search box, simply type AND plus your new term.
- Click "Search PubMed."
COMBINE SEARCHES
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Click "Preview/Index" tab.
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Click the number of a search you want to combine; for example: #1 Genetic Structures.
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From Options* dropdown, choose AND.
- Now, either:
a. Click the number of another search in your History**; for example: #3 DNA polymerases. Choose AND from Options, or...b. Type a new term in the "Add Terms" box. Click AND.
- Click "Go" if you want to go directly to the list of results. Click "Preview" if you first want to see how many results you get and, maybe, adjust your results with "Limits."
* Options include "Save to MY NCBI." To save a particular search, see MY NCBI, below.
** History tab numbers/describes all searches you have done in the past 8 hours.
VIEW ARTICLE
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To see individual article abstract, click article link.
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To see abstracts of all items displayed, go to "Display" dropdown menu above tabs and choose "Abstract" rather than the default "Summary."
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Note "Related Articles" link to the right of each citation.
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If article is available full-text, the icon to the left of the article link will display a set of papers with a green bar across the top. If abstract only, the icon will be a pair of papers with no green bar.
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To see if SCU has the full article:
a. Open new browser window.
b. From SCU Library homepage, click Electronic and Print Journals by Title and Subject , copy/paste name of journal in search box. From results, check if SCU has journal in print or online. If not, see Request Article.
REQUEST ARTICLE
If SCU does not have the article either online or in print, request it via Bronco Express
(Interlibrary Loan). If possible, the article will be delivered to your
GroupWise email within a few days of request. Otherwise, you will
receive an email when your article is ready to pick up at the library's
Circulation Desk.
EMAIL / PRINT / SAVE
To email, print, or save citations and abstracts:
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Check the box next to each citation you want. If you want the Abstract rather than the brief Summary, choose Abstract from the "Display" dropdown menu above the tabs.
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At top of results list, go to "Send to" dropdown menu. Choose Text, Printer, or Email.o Text: copy and paste this plain text into a Notepad or Wordpad file, then reformat to Word or other word-processing program.o Printer: you may have to turn off your browser's Pop-up Blocker (remember to turn on Pop-up Blocker when you are done).o Email: follow directions on page.
MY NCBI: "FAVORITE SEARCH" ALERTS
Saves searches and sends new articles that match your searches.
If you like the results of a search and want to save them and receive new articles that match your terms, register for My NCBI. New search alerts will be sent to your email.
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See My NCBI in upper right corner of PubMed page.
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Click Register.
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Fill in free registration form.
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Once Registered, click "Save Search" link to the right of the search box.
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Log in.
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If you want to receive emails containing links to new articles that match your search terms, click the "yes" button.
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Choose how often and when to receive "alerts."
You might want to keep your search terms in the "Additional Text" field and simplify your search name; e.g., Genetic Structures & DNA Polymerases.
RSS FEEDS
RSS Background
"RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format used to send new items or information to recipients who use RSS feed readers (available on the Web). PubMed RSS feeds include the latest biomedical articles with links back to PubMed citations." - PubMed
An RSS feed is another way of receiving new matches to your saved PubMed searches. An RSS reader will also help you stay current with other interests: table of contents from your favorite journals, headlines from your favorite newspapers, etc. Look for the orange RSS icon.
Here are a few popular RSS readers, among the many available:
Create A PubMed RSS Feed
- Conduct search in PubMed, using Limits if you desire.
- Once you have a set of results you are happy with, from the Send To dropdown menu, choose RSS Feed.
- A new window opens. Choose the number of items you would like to see at a time: 5, 10, 15…100.
- Enter a name for your RSS Feed, or keep the default name (i.e., your search terms, including limits).
- Click Create Feed.
- Click the orange XML rectangle; a new window opens containing XML code.
- Copy the web address (URL) from the new window.
- Paste URL from the XML page into your RSS reader.
Science Librarian |
 Michal Strutin mstrutin@scu.edu Links: Profile & Guides |
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