Kay Deeney <kdeeney@library.ucla.edu> is the primary contact.

Description: This class is intended to hone basic searching techniques and the ability to develop search strategies that will take advantage of the PubMed interface to MEDLINE. The course will explore various methods for searching the PubMed system. Topics covered include using MeSH and search qualifiers, limiting search results, and refining your search. This course will provide an indepth view of the system and demonstrate utilizing the features of PubMed to search effectively. The 3.5 version of the course provides the attendees with hands-on opportunities to practice their search techniques. This course is also offered for 2.5 hours without hands-on. The course is available as a three-week Web-based asynchronous class via Moodle for 3.5 CE credits.

Educational Objective: Participants will be able to: Understand how PubMed translates the user's query into a MEDLINE search. Be able to explain the interrelationship of the various files PubMed uses to create its interface to MEDLINE. Formulate a search using PubMed that yields bibliographic retrieval relevant to the search query. Utilize the various search options and interfaces available in PubMed to refine searching. Understand the basic functions of the features in PubMed. Learn about resources to receive current information about NLM systems and acquire materials useful for MEDLINE searching.

Agenda:

Making PubMed Work For You
Agenda for 3.5 MLA CE Credits

Course Outline
I. Introduction to PubMed - 15 minutes
General Information 
PubMed Overview 
PubMed's Home Page 
II. Searching PubMed - 30 minutes
Entering Search Terms 
Automatic Term Mapping 
Navigating Your Search Results 
Display Options 
Retrieval Options 
Document Ordering 
III. PubMed Features - 30 minutes
Limits 
History 
Search builder 
Clipboard 
Details 
Break - 15 minutes
IV. Practice Session - 25 minutes
IV. Related Articles & Links - 5 minutes
V. My NCBI - 15 minutes
VI. Advanced Searching - 35 minutes
MeSH & MeSH Database 
Boolean - AND, OR, NOT 
Search Field Abbreviations 
Journals Database 
Single Citation Matcher 
VII. Practice Session - 30 minutes
VIII. Wrap-up - 10 minutes

The instructional methods used include Demonstration, Slides, Discussion, and Hands-on Exercises.

Participant Materials: Agenda PubMed Basics Trifold Searching PubMed with MeSH Trifold PubMed My NCBI Trifold Making PubMed Work for You Exercises

Facility Requirements: Computers, Internet access

Additional Evaluation: NN/LM Evaluation form