This document provides guidance on how to effectively search for medical literature. It begins by outlining the learning objectives for medical students regarding information searching. It then provides "top tips" for where and how to search, including starting with systematic reviews and guidelines, using keywords and limits, and combining searches. Specific databases and resources are described, such as PubMed, Oria (the library catalog), BMJ Evidence Centre, and Svemed. The document emphasizes accessing full texts through links and explains how to order items not available digitally. It highlights online training and open courses offered by the library.

1. 1
How to find literature
- A very short introduction
- How to start smart
Students IIC/IID
Medicine and Health Library
August 2015

2. 2
Learning objectives for information search
for medical students (Studiehåndboka DMF)
Semester IIB
use medical library for more in-depth literature search in relation to relevant
clinical issues as part of professional development
Semester IIIA
effectively identify relevant literature in the library, and actively use reference
books and online search tool (library offers courses).
PS: If you are going to publish article(s) in a scientific journal there is an increasing
demand that you should document you search strategy.
One of Pavlovs dogs did not fit
his scientific work

3. 3
Where to search – Top Tips
1.
Start with document types where information from many
single studies is:
Found, evaluated, reviewed, summarized
Such as:
Systematic reviews, point of care tools, guidelines
2.
Small databases = Easy to search ( e.g svemed)
3.
Books can give you a good start, overview

4. 4
How to search - Top Tips
• Use more than one source
• Remember synonymes
• Look out for Systematic reviews!
When available:
• Use Keywords e.g MESH
• Use search history to combine searches
• Limits: Language, year, document type
• Defined search fields (author, article title..)
• Truncate: search for different word endings (often *)
• Phrase search: write ”quotes around words”
• Citation tracking/searching

5. 5
Library homepage
www.ntnu.no/blogger/ub-mh/in-english/
Access at home

6. 6
Oria.no = Library catalogue

7. 7
Point of care tool (BMJ Evidence Centre)
«Quick answers "
10.000 conditions
Diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, patient leaflets,
guidelines, references
Full text
SEE ALSO: UpToDate and NEL

8. 8
Largest and most popular database in medicine/biomedicine
Cover references and abstracts from 5000+ journals
The free version of Medline
Links to NTNU full text
Find systematic reviews and clinical studies easy
How to find journal articles: PubMed

9. 9
Important!
Use the link to PubMed from the Medical Library subject page to get access to the
full text articles provided by NTNU subscriptions or to order copies of unavailable
articles!
How to find journal articles: PubMed

10. 10
Patient/
Population/Problem
Common cold
Intervention
Vitamin C
Comparison
Control
?
Outcome
?
Common cold
Look for subject terms like MESH
Vitamin C
OR
Ascorbic acid
I want to look into common cold and vitamin C.
I have to be structured when I search and have ha searchable and clearly
defined research question. The PICO model can help me:
AND
OR

11. 11
PubMed informs about articles that
are free to all.
- Click on the link to get the full text.
Useful limits such
as ‘Review’ to
help narrow the
result list

12. 12
NTNU will supply correct information
about full text access.
Click on the link to access the abstract
and the full text (if available)
How to get the full article
This full text link is supplied by the
publishers and you will only get
access if NTNU has a subscription

13. 13
How to get the full article
Article information
Full text information will only appear when you have full
text access. Clicking on the link will transfer you
directly to the article (see notes about access
limitations).
For ordering a paper copy (if full text is missing)
Check our holdings of the print edition of the journal
English language is available

14. 14
How to get the full article
Example of a fulltext article:
Always choose PDF when printing.
Web version (html) of the article

15. 15
How to order a paper copy from the library
Submit your library number and last name
Messages for the library
The reference details are
automatically filled in by the system
Click once to order
Ordering copies is for NTNU students and employees!

16. 16
Google Scholar = «Scientific-Google»
Articles, conferences, Google books…..
Searches full text (publishers, universities, open access..)
What is much cited ranks high on the «hit-list»
Not very advanced search options
Search for one known reference/article works very well
Has citations
No quality control
Link to NTNU full text

17. 17
Find all articles that have cited this work
Link to NTNU full text
A simple way to search broadly on a topic or to find specific articles

18. 18
References from Scandinavian medical and health journals
130 journals (20 norwegian)

19. 19
Online training
http://www.ntnu.no/viko/english
Master student tutorials

20. 20
Get ahead of the pack!
We offer open courses in:
•Literature searching
•Use of references and citations
•Use of reference management
tools (EndNote)
Find all our courses here

21. 21
All databases have help pages and tutorials – Use them!
Contact the library if you need help!
bmh@ub.ntnu.no
72576680
facebook.com/bibliotekformedisinoghelse
twitter.com/ntnu_ub_medbib