PubMed (Medline)
Questions?? Ask your Librarian!! Beth Transue
btransue@messiah.edu - AIM: boolibmessiah - x3810 - Facebook
What is PubMed/Medline? A database provided by the National Library of Medicine
that provides bibliographic information for the medical literature. There are very few
differences between PubMed and Medline; they are essentially the same database.
How to access PubMed/Medline: We can access PubMed/Medline two ways:
1. Access Medline through EBSCO interface – Go to Messiah Library, Select
Databases, Select Medline from alphabetical list. Medline is available to
Messiah students, faculty and staff ONLY. This database provides instant access
to the articles which are available full-text, but the searching features are not as
advanced as PubMed..
2. Access PubMed through the general Internet: Go to Messiah Library, Select
Databases, Select PubMed. PubMed is FREE to the public. Therefore, access to
full-text journal articles through this database is very limited. However, the
searching features are more advanced than Medline. Look for the Messiah tab
and Icon to see full-text articles.
Basic Search Medline PubMed
Searching keywords Type keyword, Search Type keyword, Go
Searching within specified  Type keyword  Determine field name
fields  Select field from list tag (listed in Help
 Search section)
 Type keyword and then
field name tag in
brackets
Truncation Add * to word Add * to word
Limits  Select Refine Search:  Select Limits tab:
o Full text documents o Full free text articles
o Years/Dates o Years/Dates
o Review articles o Review articles
o Gender o Gender
o Age o Age
o Subject subset o Subject subset
o Publication type o Publication type
o Language o Language

Advanced Search Medline PubMed
Search Subject Heading  Select MeSH link at top  Select MeSH Database
(MeSH)  Search for subject term link on left menu bar
Subject headings are  Search for subject term
controlled vocabulary
words, or ‘tags’
assigned by experts.
Using these subject
words will often give
you better results than
just regular keywords.
Explode subject:  Default is not to explode  Default is to explode
Search for subject term and term term.
also search for subject terms  Search MeSH for  Search MESH
that are narrower in subject  Turn explode default off
hierarchical scope in MeSH  Select Explode by checking Do Not
tree checkbox Explode checkbox in
 Add to search box and MeSH entry
run search  Check subject’s
checkbox
 Send to search box
using drop down list
Search for subject as Major  Search MeSH for  Search MeSH for
Concept subject subject
 Select Major Concept  Select Major Topics
checkbox only checkbox
 Add to search box and  Send to search box
run search using drop down list
Map to subject heading  Not available  Type keyword in search
(aka mapping) box, Go
PubMed will “guess”  Select details tab
what subject word you  Determine what subject
mean when you type in heading PubMed added
a keyword. This is to your search phrase.
sometimes helpful, and  Edit as needed
sometimes not helpful.  Mapped terms are listed
as “Entry Terms” in
MeSH description
Search for subheadings  Search MeSH for  Search MeSH for
subject subject
 Select subheadings  Select subheadings
 Add to search box and  Send to search box
run search using drop down list

Navigation Medline PubMed
Display records  Select title  Select title
 Open pdf if available  Select display format
through drop down list
Availability  Open pdf if available  Link to full free text if
 Check Murray library to available
determine if publication  Link to Messiah tab
is in print collection and icon for full text.
 Request through  Check Library
Interlibrary Loan link Periodicals List to
determine if available
online or print
 Request through
Interlibrary Loan
Save results  Add record to folder  Select record
 Go to folder  Send to clipboard OR
 Save to file  Send to file
Refworks export  Add record to folder First turn on Refworks
 Go to folder PubMed Link:
 Save  In Refworks, Select
 Choose Bibliographic Tools, Customize. Then
Manager tab in the Refworks Links
 Direct export to section, Select “Yes” for
Refworks PubMed Links
Follow the Refworks Guide
for instructions about how
to export references from
PubMed to Refworks.
NOTE: The “View in
PubMed” link will take you
to the actual record in
PubMed.
Email results  Add record to folder  Select record
 Go to folder  Send to Email
 Email
Print results  Print from browser OR  Select record
 Add record to folder  Select display
 Go to folder  Send to printer OR
 Print, Choose citation  Print through browser
style button

PUBMED Search
MESH: