Which PubMed e-learning should I take?
The Medical Library offers several e‑learning modules on PubMed.
- Are you new to PubMed or do you need to brush up your PubMed skills?
Take the module PubMed Basics - Would you like to practice with advanced PubMed options such as Major Topic, subheadings and [tiab]?
Take the module PubMed Advanced
This LibGuide provides an overview of search options in PubMed for users who are familiar with the basics.
What is PubMed?
PubMed is a freely searchable database with citations for biomedical literature, comprising:
- > 32 million citations dating back to ca. 1946
- > 5600 biomedical journals
The content is managed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the US.
How do I access PubMed?
The easiest way to access PubMed is by using the PubMed URL of the Central Medical Library (CMB).
Every reference then contains the link that provides access to full-text articles in the CMB/UMCG collection. If the Get it! button doesn't work, please check the DOI-link (blow the abstract).
This link also enables staff members and students of the University of Groningen/UMCG to access the full-text articles at home. Users can log in with their student number, University of Groningen P number and CMB proxy account.
Overview: Searching in PubMed
1. Simple subject search
You can easily search by subject by typing the search term or terms in the search box. The automatic term mapping function includes the most suitable MeSH terms (See tab: MeSH) in the search.
Follow these tutorials for a short demo:
PubMed Subject Search (1 min)
PubMed Subject Search: How it works (4 min)
For example, what goes wrong when you search for 'labor' (as in: giving birth)?
2. Searching with MeSH and tiab
For a complete search, always combine MeSH terms (See tab: MeSH) with search terms in the title and/or abstract [tiab] (See tab: Search by Word).
3. History & Advanced Search Builder
To view the search history, click Advanced right below the search box. This opens the Advanced Search Builder (See tab: Combine Search Terms) where you can build your search in a structured, step-by-step way.
4. Limiting results with filters & Clinical Queries
Once you have combined the different components of your query into a final search strategy, you can limit your results with filters and/or Clinical Queries (See tab: Filters & Clinical Queries).
PubMed search plan
- Search plan for PubMed (in Dutch)Use a search plan to translate your research question into a search strategy.
This involves breaking down your question into search concepts (e.g. PICO: Patient Intervention Comparison Outcome; DDO: Domain Determinant Outcome). This search plan can also be used for other databases.