Literature Searching in Ovid MEDLINE

Less than 2 minutes

The purpose of this guide is to explain the concept and benefits of using a controlled vocabulary in databases. A controlled vocabulary, such as MeSH in MEDLINE, consists of predefined terms used consistently to index database records, ensuring accurate retrieval of relevant information. This approach helps capture synonyms, variations in terminology, and ensures uniformity in indexing. The guide also covers how subject headings are mapped to MeSH terms automatically in Ovid databases, and introduces additional features like scope notes, explode/focus functions, and subheadings to enhance search specificity while highlighting potential pitfalls.