Computer search services
25 August 2006
Services for members
Every year, the BMA library's staff carry out over 1,000 computer searches in medicine and related topics. As an individual member of the BMA, you can convert your need for information into a printed bibliography. There are two kinds of searches available: a quick search and a full online search.
Quick searches are available free of charge. MEDLINE - an extremely large, general purpose, clinical database is searched. Up to 25 citations on a researched subject are provided going back to 1966 where necessary. Limitations such as English language, human subjects, year of publication, review articles only and a range of EBM related quality filters can be applied to the results. If you are interested in finding out more about evidence-based medicine, including quality filters, please go to our evidence-based medicine factsheet.
Online searches are more detailed, and carry a minimum charge for the cost of the search itself plus the first 25 citations. Additional citations listed are charged per reference. Please go to our current price list. The library has access to major searching systems, including Dialog and Lexis-Nexis Professional, and databases such as AMED (Complementary Medicine), EMBASE (Medicine, Pharmacology), BIOSIS (Biological Sciences), CINAHL (Nursing) and PsycInfo (Psychological Sciences).
Requesting a search - members
If you are a member, please go to our quick search form - (login required, scroll to bottom of page) , or contact Helen Elwell by phone on 020 7383 6582 or email: info.litsearch@bma.org.uk.
If you simply want a copy of an article and you already know the details, please use the copy request forms.
Services for non-members
Online searches on biomedical subjects are available to non-members. They carry an hourly research fee, plus a basic search fee and charges per citation (over 25). A minimum charge applies. Please go to our current price list. Payment is required in advance, credit cards are accepted. Please contact:
Helen Elwell, Assistant Librarian (Computer Search Services), BMA Library, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP. Tel: 020 7383 6582,
fax: 020 7388 2544, email: info.litsearch@bma.org.uk