1. How to Search in
PubMed®
Created by Patricia Mejía
LS5473.20
Summer 2012

2. Step 1
The easiest way to start a
search is by clearly identifying
what is it you need or want to
investigate. In other words,
what is the objective of your
search?
The objective provides details
about the research topic.
Sample:
I need to find articles on
nutrition behavior in
adolescents.

3. Step 2
Look for a database that
offers research articles
based on the topic you have
chosen. Make sure your
findings include:
•Clinical studies
•Systematic reviews
The following databases are
ideal for evidence-based
research:
•PubMed
•CINHAL
•Medline

4. Step 3
Identify Subject Heading
terms for your research topic.
Databases index subject
heading terms differently.
Databases such as PubMed,
CINHAL, and Medline use
medical subject heading, or
MeSH, terms.
MeSH terms for your research
topic could be identified by
going to the National Library
of Medicine (NLM) website,
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

5. Step 4
Query: nutrition behavior
in adolescents
At the NCBI webpage, select
MeSH from the drop menu and
type each key word separately
in order to identify individual
subject headings for each term.
As you identify the appropriate
MeSH term, perform a PubMed
search by clicking ‘Add to
search builder’ and ‘Search
PubMed’ boxes which are at
the top right hand corner of the
screen.

6. Step 5
Once you have identified
each query term, found its
MeSH equivalent and
performed a PubMed
search, go to ‘Advanced.’
A new window shall open
and you can perform your
first major search
combining all three MeSH
terms identified.

7. Step 6
It is likely you will retrieve
an exceedingly large number
of records. It is convenient
for you to begin to ‘filter’
your results to a reasonable
amount .
You may apply filters that
will limit articles within a
specific date range, article
type and full-text
availability.

8. Step 7
Once you have reduced your
search to a reasonable
number of records, you may
select those which will be
useful.
If you notice the screenshot,
the number of records were
reduced from 125 to 24 by:
•selecting only free full text
availability
•filtering for date range 2007
– 2012
•choosing only clinical trials
and systematic reviews

9. Step 8
Once you have reviewed
and selected those articles
that are pertinent to your
search, you can store your
selection. Storing the
articles of your choice is
easy. This can be done in
two ways.
You may select the records
you need and send them to
‘Clipboard,’ which will
temporarily store them
during the time you are
performing the search.

10. Step 9
Records could be stored
permanently by sending them
to ‘My Bibliography.’ At the
time you are done selecting
your favorites, send them to
‘My Bibliography’ instead of
‘Clipboard’.
In order to save them in your
bibliography, you need to
create a NCBI user account.

11. Step 10
Select the best articles and
send them to ‘My Bibliography.’
A new window will open
requiring for you to login.
Once logged in, follow the steps
to save the articles in your
bibliography.
This application will allow you
to save searches in your profile
and may access them at a later
time or even create a public
URL.