Medline Plus user guide
2005 version
This is the online version of the book used for our MEDLINE Plus online searching courses. It can also be used as a reference guide. A link to a printable (PDF) version is given below. Please navigate through the guide using the menus on the left - when selected each section will expand to show it's contents. To return to the main menu select any section heading.
Additional help and information
- Register on our MEDLINE Plus search courses - online searching (basic), and online searching (advanced).
- Print the most recent MEDLINE Plus course notes (2005 version 3) [
51 pages, 664 KB]. These are based on the new Ovid interface. A copy is included with registration on BMA searching courses.
- Print our colourful quick reference guide [
2 pages]. Aimed at regular users who just need a reminder of the commands. Keep it by your computer. If you would like a laminated colour copy, please email us at info.medline@bma.org.uk with your membership number and we'll be happy to post one to you.
- Print our colourful beginners reference guide [
2 pages]. Aimed at beginners, this short guide gets you started. Keep it by your computer. If you would like a laminated colour copy, please email us at info.medline@bma.org.uk with your membership number and we'll be happy to post one to you.
- Purchase the Online Searchers Companion. This book is written by BMA online searching experts Jane Rowlands and William Forrester and can be ordered online from the publishers, Facet Publishing.
- Read Ovid's gateway user manual and gateway end-user guide. These are based on the Ovid web gateway and can be applied to all the databases (including MEDLINE) hosted by Ovid.
- Print the quick guides produced by Ovid.
- Download software helpful in using all the features of MEDLINE Plus.
- Terms and conditions for the use of MEDLINE Plus.
Guide contents - based on the 2005 old Ovid gateway
The MEDLINE Plus service
1.1 Features
1.2 Registering
1.3 Requesting a free search or monthly update, help desk and website support
The MEDLINE database
2.1 Scope
2.2 Structure
2.3 Strengths and limitations
Using the Ovid software to access MEDLINE - the basics
3.1 Logging on from the BMA site
3.2 The main search page
3.3 Author search
3.4 Title search
3.5 Journal search
3.6 Other field searches
3.7 Combining and displaying results
3.8 Short-cuts
3.9 Finding a known article
Planning a search
4. Two approaches: ideal journal article or PICO
Concept searching using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
5.1 Map term to subject heading
5.2 Tree structure
5.3 Explode
5.4 Subheadings
5.5 Focus
5.6 Tips and tricks
Concept searching using keywords
6.1 Text words and map to text
6.2 Synonyms
6.3 Truncation and wildcards
6.4 Searching for phrases
6.5 Tips and tricks
Developing the search strategy
7.1 Combining terms
7.2 Filters
7.3 Limiting a search
7.4 Recall & relevance
7.5 Saving search history
7.6 Deleting a search
7.7 Changing to another file
Handling the results
8.1 The citation manager box
8.2 Viewing, printing, emailing and saving search results
8.3 Saving results for import into bibliographic software
8.4 Online ordering
Online help
9. Ask a librarian; and context-sensitive help
Appendices
A1 Sample MEDLINE record
A2 MeSH tree structure
A3 Two character codes for fields
A4 Forming a search strategy
A5 Two character codes for subheadings
A6 Summary of short-cut commands
A7 Methodological or clinical filters
A8 Recommended reading & websites
Jane Rowlands
Clare Aitken
Michelle Chan
BMA Library
Tel: 020 7383 6224 or 6737
email: info.medline@bma.org.uk
web: http://www.bma.org.uk/medline
Updated 10 February 2005