|
Responsible Literature Searching: Ovid MEDLINE
|
|
What is Ovid?
Ovid Technologies is a commercial vendor that has created a unique search interface for MEDLINE and other bibliographic databases in the health sciences. In early 2008 Ovid released a new interface for MEDLINE. This also includes an interface change to the EBM Reviews. Access Ovid using the library web site quick link. |
|
Ovid Search Strengths
-
MEDLINE is divided by publication date:
Ovid MEDLINE 1996 to current week Ovid MEDLINE 1950 to 1995 Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations (current week) OvidOLDMEDLINE 1950-1965
Advanced Ovid Search tab Can view and combine search sets easily Can search for article titles and journal table of contents -
Additional Limits feature enables users to set EBM filters for major categories:
Therapy, diagnosis, prognosis, reviews, clinical prediction guides, qualitative studies, etiology, costs, and economics
Full-text articles use the Find It @ MCG icon  Recommended searching string is to enter each term separately; combine sets or apply limits to results Save Search/Alert function allows users to store search sets, go to Personal Account as users must set up an account for access
Ovid Search Cautions:
Basic Search tab To find the most recent citations, users must select the Ovid MEDLINE In-Process. In-Process content include
Publisher supplied citations (before publication in print journal) -
Ahead of print citations (articles from journal web site in online format only)
Searching can only be completed by using several keywords and synonyms for concepts does not realize that tumor=neoplasm as MeSH does Citation record only includes the title, author & citation information
Advanced Ovid Search tab, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Any term you select will automatically explode. This means a selected Subject Heading will include narrow terms listed below in the hierarchical structure of MeSH The Ovid Mapping Display for Subject Headings allows users to choose more than one term. Choosing multiple terms from this list of terms eliminates the option to add subheadings In the Ovid Mapping Display for Subject Heading when choosing more than one term the default option for searching is OR;
Search results may lead to articles with no common relationship between the Subject Headings. For example, selecting the two Subject Headings terms, Hypertension or Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced will include articles from different genders and both types of hypertension
May miss some articles that do not use expected MeSH heading in the text System times out after brief inactive period
For a complete tutorial on how to use the Ovid MEDLINE interface see the Online Tutorials page.
|
|
