You can search for subject headings in PubMed by using the "MeSH Database". You can find the MeSH Database on the PubMed home page under "Explore".
In the MeSH database you are searching for the Subject Heading for your term so that you can add it to your search. Type in the term you are looking for (e.g. heart attack) and click Search.
PubMed will display the most appropriate term for you to use in your search. In the case of the example for "heart attack" the correct subject heading to search is "Myocardial Infarction". Click "Add to Search Builder" to add this to your search.
PubMed adds the term to the "PubMed Search Builder" window using the proper search syntax. In this case...
"Myocardial Infarction"[Mesh]
Now click "Search PubMed" to proceed with searching for this subject heading.
You can search for phrases in PubMed using quotation marks.
Type the phrase you want to use in the PubMed search window.
Add quotation marks on either end of the phrase.
e.g.
Use the asterisk symbol.
*
eg. child*
This will capture variations on the word child including but not limited to:
You can search a particular field in PubMed by selecting "Advanced" under the main search window.
This will direct you to the "Advanced Search Builder" page.
Click on the arrows next to "All fields" and select the specific field you wish to search.
A commonly chosen option is "Title". This searches for the words found in an article title.
Type in the term(s) you would like found in the title field. (e.g. breast cancer)
Click the "Add" button. This adds the search to the Query Box.
PubMed adds the proper search syntax to the Query Box. In this case...
breast cancer[Title]
Click "Search" to see the articles with breast cancer in the title.
Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library (University of Manitoba) --- ph. 204-789-3342 | healthlibrary@umanitoba.ca