How PubMed Works

This series of four classes addresses increasing health information access and use by highlighting information about the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed bibliographic database. 

How PubMed Works is a series of four 90-minute presentations. The individual classes are:

  1. How PubMed Works: Introduction
  2. How PubMed Works: Selection
  3. How PubMed Works: MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)
  4. How PubMed Works: ATM (Automatic Term Mapping)

Register for each class separately. 

Each class is eligible for 1.5 MLA CE credits.

Objectives

How PubMed Works: Introduction

  • Understand what PubMed is and what's in it.
  • Find the original research that is the basis for a news article.
  • Find articles by a specific author.
  • Search for articles on a specific subject.
  • Narrow search results to a more specific subset
  • Explore Advanced Search Builder and Search History.

How PubMed Works: Selection

  • Describe some issues and concerns surrounding the current publishing landscape.
  • Articulate NLM responsibilities and practices in collecting and providing access to the biomedical literature.
  • Explain what is referenced in the PubMed database.
  • Describe the selection criteria for the different components of the PubMed database.
  • Find additional resources for authors and librarians on assessing publication quality.

How PubMed Works: MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)

  • Explore the MeSH Database
  • Describe a Controlled Vocabulary
  • Explore the four types of MeSH Terms
  • Locate and explain entry terms, date introduced, previous indexing, automatic explosion

How PubMed Works: ATM (Automatic Term Mapping)

  • Describe the contents of the 3 Translation Tables. 
  • Explain the order of ATM 
  • Analyze Search Details to verify term mapping.
  • Locate PubMed's list of indexed phrases
  • Describe 3 Ways to bypass ATM

Class Owner(s)

Contact the NNLM Training Office for more information.

Instructor(s)

Molly Knapp, Training Development Manager, NTO
Catherine Staley, Trainer, OET
Erica Lake, Medical and Academic Library Outreach Coordinator, Region 6
Rebecca Brown, Training Development Manager, NTO
Carolann Curry, Outreach & Data Coordinator, Region 5

Continuing Education

Each 90-minute session in this PubMed series has been approved for 1.5 Medical Library Association (MLA) continuing education credits.

Classes

Event Title Event Start Date Summary Continuing Education Credits CE Categories Is Online Registration

No classes.

Event Title Event Start Date Summary Continuing Education Credits CE Categories Is Online Registration
How PubMed Works: ATM This 90-minute class about PubMed's Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) takes an in-depth look at the contents of the 3 translation tables used to process and map your search terms. 1.50 MLA On
How PubMed Works: MeSH This 90-minute MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) class explores the vocabulary underlying the PubMed database. 1.50 MLA On
How PubMed Works: Selection This 90-minute class covers issues and concerns surrounding the current publishing landscape; the selection criteria for the different components of the PubMed database and NLM responsibilities and practices in collecting and providing access to the biomedical literature. MEDLINE and PMC staff will be available to answer audience questions. 1.50 MLA On
How PubMed Works: Introduction This 90-minute introduction session provides overviews about:

What PubMed is and what's in it.
Finding the original research that is the basis for a news article.
Finding articles by a specific author.
Searching for articles on a specific subject.
Narrowing search results to a more specific subset
Exploring the Advanced Search Builder and Search History.
1.50 MLA On
How PubMed Works: ATM This 90-minute class about PubMed's Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) takes an in-depth look at the contents of the 3 translation tables used to map your search terms. 1.50 On
How PubMed Works: MeSH This 90-minute MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) class explores the vocabulary underlying the PubMed database. 1.50 On
How PubMed Works: Selection This 90-minute class covers issues and concerns surrounding the current publishing landscape; the selection criteria for the different components of the PubMed database and NLM responsibilities and practices in collecting and providing access to the biomedical literature. MEDLINE and PMC staff will be available to answer audience questions. 1.50 On
How PubMed Works: Introduction This 90-minute introduction session provides overviews about:

What PubMed is and what's in it.
Finding the original research that is the basis for a news article.
Finding articles by a specific author.
Searching for articles on a specific subject.
Narrowing search results to a more specific subset
Exploring the Advanced Search Builder and Search History.
1.50 On