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PubMed Advanced Search Builder

PubMed has an advanced search interface. You can reach it via Advanced right below the search box. The advanced search interface consists of PubMed Advanced Search Builder and History and Search Details.

In the builder you can add search terms to the Query box. From there you can run a search strategy in PubMed. Searches from the History can also be added to the Query box to be combined with other searches.

Watch the Advanced Search Builder demo (2:06) below by Laupus Health Sciences Library (East Carolina University).

Boolean operators

Use boolean operators to combine searches, for example when you want to complete a search element by combining MeSH searches with searches focusing on the words in the title and abstract ([tiab] searches).

OR
Venn Diagram ORUse OR to find publications that match one or both of the search terms. OR is used to expand your search (OR=mORe).
For example, diabetes mellitus[mesh] OR diabetes[tiab]

AND
Venn Diagram ANDUse AND to find publications that match both search terms.
When looking for articles on gene therapy for diabetes, use: diabetes mellitus[mesh] AND genetic therapy[mesh]
or even better: (diabetes mellitus[mesh] OR diabetes[tiab]) AND (genetic therapy[mesh] OR gene therapy[tiab]).


BelangrijkWhen combining AND and OR, make sure that the ( ) are correctly placed.
Searching with (diabetes mellitus[mesh] OR (diabetes[tiab] AND genetic therapy[mesh]) OR gene therapy[tiab]) gives a very different result...


NOT
Venn Diagram NOTBy using NOT, you omit all publications matching a search term.
If you are searching for articles on diabetes but not gestational diabetes, you could enter the following: diabetes mellitus[mesh] NOT gestational diabetes[mesh].

BelangrijkNote that articles on both types of diabetes will also be excluded.

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Subjects: Faculty of Medical Sciences