Medical subject headings (MeSH): tips & tricks
2004 version 2
24 May 2004
MeSH searching tips & tricks
All of the following examples can be entered in the Enter Keyword or phrase search box then followed by or the Enter key:
To search for a known MeSH term without following the mapping process enter the correct heading followed by a forward slash. The system will not map this term or offer the list of subheadings associated with it,
eg coronary disease/
To explode a known MeSH term type exp plus the MeSH term (the forward slash is optional),
eg exp coronary disease/
To focus a known MeSH term type * plus the MeSH term (the space or the forward slash is optional),
eg * wine/
It is possible to both explode and focus a term. Focus is then also applied to the narrower headings of the MeSH term,
eg exp *coronary disease/
To find available subheadings for a MeSH term type sh plus the term (do not use a forward slash),
eg sh coronary disease
Postqualification can be used in order to add or remove subheadings, and add focus or explode to search statements you have already typed. For example:
#1
You enter coronary disease/
Ovid displays the search as coronary disease/
#2
You enter 1/et,pc
Ovid displays the search as coronary disease/et,pc
#3
You enter 2/
Ovid displays the search as coronarydisease/ (ie removes the subheadings)
#4
You enter *1
Ovid displays the search as *coronary disease/
#5
You enter exp 2
Ovid displays the search as exp coronary disease/et,pc
#6
You enter exp *2
Ovid displays the search as exp *coronary disease/et,pc
MeSH tools
Select from the Main Search page icons to find several tools to aid MeSH searching:
Type one word and select Permuted index. This gives a list of all words used in MeSH headings. It helps when a term may be found in several subject areas or you just don't know where to start searching. Alternatively type ptx plus the word of interest in the Enter Keyword or phrase search box,
eg ptx coronary
Enter a known MeSH term and select Tree from the options. This shows the position of the term within the hierarchical tree structure. Alternatively type tree plus the term interest in the Enter Keyword or phrase search box,
eg tree coronary disease
Enter a known MeSH term and click Scope Note in the list. This enables you to check the scope of a term and it’s synonyms. Alternatively type scope plus the known term interest in the Enter Keyword or phrase search box,
eg scope coronary disease
Any questions? Please contact the MEDLINE Plus help desk:
Tel: 020 7383 6224 or 6737
email: info.medline@bma.org.uk
web: http://www.bma.org.uk/medline