Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Ask a Librarian

« Return to List of Quick Guides

Searching

  1. Select database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
  2. Type a word or phrase in the search box.
  3. Click on GO.

Combining Terms

Use OR (all capitals) to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

Example: rash OR hives

Use AND (all capitals) to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search.

Example: measles AND pregnancy

Truncating Terms

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

Example: infect* (retrieves infect, infected, infects, infection, etc.)

Note: If you receive a warning about only retrieving the first 600 variations, lengthen the root word to search for all endings.

Proximity Searching

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

Example: "in utero"

Note: Try it without quotation marks first. If the results are not satisfactory then try using quotation marks.

Combining Search Sets

  1. Click on HISTORY located below the search box.
  2. Type the search numbers preceded by # using AND or OR as needed.
  3. Click on GO.

    4. Example: #2 AND #6

Author Searching

  1. Type the last name plus initial(s) in the search box. Do not use punctuation.
  2. Click on GO.

    3. Example: johnson d

Journal Searching

To find a specific article:

  1. Click on SINGLE CITATION MATCHER at the left side of the screen.
  2. Type the information you know in the appropriate fields.
  3. Click on SEARCH.

To browse a specific journal:

  1. Click on JOURNALS DATABASE at the left side of the screen.
  2. Type the name of the journal in the search box.
  3. Click on GO.
  4. Find the correct journal and click on LINKS at the right side of the screen.
  5. Click on PUBMED from the drop-down menu that appears.

Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) Searching

  1. Click on MESH DATABASE at the left side of the screen.
  2. Type a word or phrase in the search box after FOR.
  3. Click on GO. PubMed will try to find the Medical Subject Heading that matches your word or phrase.
  4. Click on the Medical Subject Heading link that is closet to your word or phrase.
  5. Check the box to the left of your Medical Subject Heading.
    (Optional)Click in the radio button to the left of one or more subheadings ot narrow your search.
  6. Click the down arrow under the SEND TO drop down menu to select the desired SEARCH BOX WITH... choice.
    (Optional) Repeat step #2-6 to add more concepts.
  7. Click on SEARCH PUBMED to exit the MeSH Database and perform your search in PubMed.

Eliminating Review Articles

Video

Displaying Search Results

  1. Use the SCROLL BAR to move through records on the page.
  2. Click on NEXT or PREVIOUS to move to other pages.
    (Optional) Specify a page number and click on PAGE.
  3. To display records in a different format click on DISPLAY and select the desired format from the drop-down menu.
    (Optional) ABSTRACT format is recommended as it includes FindIt which will help locate full text if available.
  4. Click on DISPLAY.

Selecting Records

  1. Click in the box to the left of the record to mark the record for later printing, downloading or emailing.
  2. Click on SEND TO and select CLIPBOARD from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on CLIPBOARD below the search box to view saved records.

    Note: You only need to use the Clipboard if you are selecting records from more than one page or search set. If you have selected records on one page only, you can print, download or email directly from that page.

Saving Search Results

  1. View the records you want to download whether on the Clipboard or a search results page.
  2. Click on DISPLAY and select the desired format from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on SEND TO and select FILE from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click on SAVE.
  5. Select your SAVE IN destination and type your filename using a .txt extension.

    Example: myfile.txt

  6. Click on SAVE to begin downloading.

Exporting Search Results to RefWorks

Moving Citations from PubMed into RefWorks

Emailing Search Results

  1. View the records you want to print whether on the Clipboard or a search results page.
  2. Click on SEND TO and select E-MAIL from the drop-down menu.
  3. Enter the destination email address.
    (Optional) Use the drop-down menus to change the display FORMAT or SORT order.
    (Optional) Add a message in the ADDITIONAL TEXT box.
  4. Click on MAIL.
  5. Click on BACK to return to the results screen.

Setting Up RSS Feeds & Alerts

RSS & Alert Guides: PubMed

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

  1. Click on CLEAR located to the right of the GO button.
  2. Type a word or phrase in the search box.
  3. Click on GO.

Getting Help

Click on HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

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

Databases Covered by this Guide

  • PubMed (Includes MEDLINE)

    ...and other NCBI Entrez databases