Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Searching

1. Select an database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
2. Click on ADVANCED OVID SEARCH.
3. Type a word or phrase in the search box.
   Use quotation marks around words to be searched as a phrase.
4. Click on SEARCH.
   

Combining Terms

Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

Example: aspirin or acetaminophen

Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search.

Example: aspirin and inflammation

Truncating Terms

Truncation only works in ADVANCED OVID SEARCH.

Use $ or : to replace one or more characters at the end of a search term.

Example: drug$ (retrieves drug, drugs, druggist, etc.)

Use ? to replace one character within a search term.

Example: wom?n (retrieves woman, women)

Proximity Searching

Use quotation marks around words that are to be searched as a phrase.

Example: "blood pressure"

Use adj# to find terms within a specified number(#) of words of each other regardless of the order in which they appear.

Example: home adj3 care (retrieves home care, care in the home)

Combining Search Sets

1. Click on SEARCH HISTORY.
2. Click in the boxes to the left of the search sets to combine.
   
3. Click on AND or OR as desired.

Author Searching

1. Click on ADVANCED OVID SEARCH tab.
2. Click in the circle to left of AUTHOR.
3. Type the author's last name, a space, and first initial (if known) in the ENTER KEYWORD OR PHRASE box.
   Example: johnsen m
4. Click on SEARCH.
5. Click in the box(es) next to desired names.
6. Click on SEARCH FOR SELECTED TERMS.

Journal Searching

To browse a specific journal: (Only available in International Pharmaceutical Abstracts)

1. Click on ADVANCED OVID SEARCH tab.
2. Click in circle to left of JOURNAL.
3. Type the full journal name in the ENTER KEYWORD OR PHRASE box.
   Example:Journal of drug education
4. Click on SEARCH.
5. Click in the box(es) next to desired names.
6. Click on SEARCH FOR SELECTED TERMS.

To find a specific article: (Only available in International Pharmaceutical Abstracts)

1. Click on the FIND CITATION tab.
2. Enter any combination of article title, author, journal name, date, or volume and page.
3. Click on SEARCH.

Displaying Search Results

1. Click on NEXT PAGE or PREVIOUS PAGE to move through additional records.
2. Click on VIEW ABSTRACT to see the abstract of an individual record or check the box next to VIEW ALL ABSTRACTS at the top of the screen.
3. Click on Find It to locate the item electronically, on campus, or to request document delivery.
   (Optional) Click on other options as available.

Selecting Records

1. Click in the box to the left of the desired record for later printing, saving or emailing.
   

Printing Search Results

Printing Records

1. Use the SCROLL BAR to move to the RESULTS MANAGER on the left side of the screen.
2. Click in the circles beside the desired options.
3. Click on PRINT PREVIEW in the ACTIONS column.
4. Click on FILE at the top of the screen and select PRINT.
5. Click on PRINT.

Saving Search Results

1. Insert removable storage device. (i.e. flash drive, memory stick, 3 1/2" disk ...).
2. Use the SCROLL BAR to move to the RESULTS MANAGERto the left of the screen.
3. Click in the circles next to the desired options.
4. Click on SAVE in the ACTIONS column.
5. Select the desired options and click on CONTINUE.
6. Click on SAVE in the FILE DOWNLOAD window.
7. Specify a destination drive in SAVE IN: and a file name in FILE NAME: and then click on SAVE.

Exporting Search Results to RefWorks

See Moving Citations from OvidSP databases into RefWorks

Emailing Search Results

Emailing Records

1. Use the SCROLL BAR to move to the RESULTS MANAGER to the left of the screen.
2. Click in the circles next to the desired options.
3. Click on EMAIL in the ACTION column.
4. Enter your full email address in the TO: box.
5. Click on SEND EMAIL.

Setting Up RSS Feeds & Alerts

1. Conduct a search in the database.
2. Click on SAVED SEARCHES/ALERTS in the upper right of the screen
3. Click on CREATE A NEW PERSONAL ACCOUNT or login if you already have a personal account.
4. Click on SEARCH HISTORY under the search boxes on the left of the screen.
5. Click on SAVE SEARCH HISTORY.
6. Select AUTOALERT from the TYPE drop down menu.
7. Enter a name in the SEARCH NAME box.
   (Optional) Enter information in the COMMENTS box if desired.
8. Select desired choices under AUTOALERT OPTIONS.
   You may save the search as either an autoalert or RSS.
9. Click on SAVE.

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

1. Click on MAIN SEARCH PAGE.

Getting Help

• Click on HELP for on-screen help.
• Click on ASK A LIBRARIAN to email a question to a UW-Madison librarian.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

1. Click on LOGOFF at the top of the screen.
2. Click on HOME at the top of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Databases Covered by this Guide

• Health & Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
• International Pharmaceutical Abstracts
...and other OvidSP databases