PubMed Basics

Objectives

To hone basic searching techniques and the ability to develop general search strategies that will take advantage of the various interface access points of PubMed. The difference between PubMed and MEDLINE will be explained. Topics covered include Automatic Term Mapping, Interpreting Search Results, understanding Related Articles, Searching with MeSH, Journal searching  (Single Citation Matcher) and establishing a My NCBI account. This one-hour class is an overview to demonstrate using the aforementioned features of PubMed to search effectively.

Agenda

1. PubMed and MEDLINE explanation
2. Automatic Term Mapping (5min)
3. Interpreting Search Details (10 min)
4. Intepreting Search Results (10 min)
5. Searching with MeSH (10 min)
6. Journal Searching (5 min)
7. Searching with Limits (10 min)
8. Establishing an NCBI Account  (10 min)

Course Materials

Hand-outs, Exercises and Brochure PDF

Continuing Education

Upon successful completion of this class, each participant will receive 1 or 2 hours of continuing education credit awarded by the Medical Library Association.

Instructors

Author

PJ Grier, Outreach/Access Coordinator, NN/LM, SE/A Region