1. Academic Information Service University of Pretoria
MEDLINE (Block SA3)
Academic Information Service
University of Pretoria

2. Advantages of bibliographic database training (How to find journal articles)
Find the information you need at the appropriate time and place
Focus your information on your topic by choosing the right database
Efficient searching techniques = quality information
It gives an understanding of the information process
It emphasizes the process of lifelong education

3. Understand the information process
Receive the research topic
Find the information
Process the information for an assignment
Presentation of research including the use of a reference technique (Vancouver)

4. Finding the Information
Use Medline to find journal articles (other databases can also be used – depends on what you are looking for)
Find the electronic full text of your references use (Electronic Journals)
Use library catalogue (UP Explore) to find journals in the library in print format

5. MEDLINE
opening
ON OVID

6. TO ACCESS THE HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY (Medical Library) type in the following URL:
And bookmark it for future reference.

7. To access the AIS from Main UP webpage
Click here to go to AIS main page

8. Click on “Services per Faculty”
Main AIS webpage
Click on “Services per Faculty”

9. To go to Medical Library’s webpage
Click on “Health Sciences”

10. To go to Bibliographic Databases Click on “Health Databases”

11. Click on Medline

13. What you need to start On campus:
Library registration (at library counter)
Network registration (at library counter)
Ask for training sessions if you still feel uncomfortable searching Medline or any other database
Off campus:
Library registration

14. Background of Medline A biomedical database
Covering years since 1966 (and recently back to 1951)
Indexing journals only
± 4800 journals indexed
International coverage

15. Medline can be searched in different time periods
Latest 10 years most popular

16. For starters! Specify your topic
Break up your topic in its different parts if more than one
Start searching the parts or terms one by one
After searching the different terms, you will combine them logically

17. Example of a search subject
Write an assignment on the management, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of fractures in sports in adolescents and adults.

18. Break the search down into concepts
Fractures B
Management
Treatment
Surgery
Rehabilitation
Prevention C
Sports
Soccer
Rugby
Hockey
etc D
Adolescents
Teenagers
Adults

19. Type in the first part of your topic
First search term

20. MESH Medical Subject Headings An alphabetical list of medical terms
MESH makes efficient searching easy for everyone

21. Advantages of MESH
Automatic cross-referencing from non-MESH to MESH terms
Covers British/American spelling
Includes singular/plural terms
Includes synonyms
MESH terms link to sub-headings
MESH terms will take you step-by-step through database searching on OVID

22. Your typed-in subject term will be “mapped” to a MESH term
Click on the term to see “tree structure”
Mapping term

23. EXPLODE MESH terms are organised into tree structures
The TREE structure arranges MESH terms into broader and narrower terms
Medline has an EXPLODE function which enables you to use a broader term while simultaneously including all its narrower terms
Enable the EXPLODE function by clicking on the EXPLODE block at the right side of your MESH term

24. Scroll down until you see the term “Bone fractures” highlighted
NOTE: the columns marked “Hits” “Explode” “Focus” and “Scope Notes”
Tree structure

25. Click in this box to “explode” Click in this box to “focus”

26. FOCUS Medline has the powerful function of focusing
Focusing means to throw out less important articles
You can restrict your MESH term to the most important articles on that topic by clicking in the FOCUS block at the far right side of your MESH term

27. Click on icon for scope note (description)
Explode/focus

28. The information icon shows a scope note of the MESH term

29. Scroll to the top of the page and click on Continue

30. Subheadings / Qualifiers
Subheadings enable searching on specific aspects of your topic eg complications, surgery, rehabilitation, prevention and control …
You can mark more than one subheading simultaneously
Using subheadings = potent searching!

31. Choose one or more subheading or none if so preferred
subheadings

32. REMEMBER MANAGEMENT OF A DISEASE:
There are different subheading options to cover the management of a disease.
You can choose one or more subheadings such as surgery, diet therapy, drug therapy, radiotherapy or even rehabilitation.
Note on subheadings

33. Set no 1 – result of search
You have now searched the first 2 concepts, viz A and B. (Fractures and Surgery,Rehabilitation,Prevention). You must now search for concept C, viz Sports
Set no 1 – result of search
Second term of topic
Enter next concept

34. Each new term will take you through the searching process again
Mapping/focus/explode

35. Subheading/keep focused

36. BOOLEAN LOGIC AND / OR / NOT
FRACTURES
SPORTS
BOOELIAN LOGIC or

37. BOOLEAN LOGIC
AND
FRACTURES
SPORTS
AND
AND

38. BOOLEAN LOGIC
NOT
Not
FACIAL
FRACTURES
NOT

39. Combine the two terms to articles containing both
COMBINE SETS
Combine 2 concepts with set numbers

40. Set No 3 : result of combined terms with “and”
And make less

41. LIMIT function
Medline covers veterinary sciences, all languages, different publication types, all ages and the time period since 1966.
The powerful LIMIT function enables you to limit your search to all of the above categories and more. You can limit eg to only human and English references.
Limit to REVIEW articles
The LIMIT functions can be used by directly marking the LIMIT blocks under the command bar or use the expanded function on the top of the screen (dart board icon)
limiting

42. Click here for additional limits
And make less
Click here for additional limits
General Limits

43. Click here or in another circle if you wish to limit to another set no
Limit your search
Click here or in another circle if you wish to limit to another set no

44. Press Ctrl button to choose more than one

46. References will be displayed in bibliographic format under the search strategy

47. Mark your preferences for display and output format

48. You can customize your display of references by clicking here

50. About 65% of the Medline database references provide abstracts

51. UP subscribes to ± 165 full text journals on OVID
UP subscribes to ± 165 full text journals on OVID. Click on UP full text to see article

52. Full text article appears on screen in OVID format. Choose
Full text article appears on screen in OVID format. Choose .pdf format if available. Saving or ing an article in this format, will loose the graphics and tables.

53. Maximise window and click on “Article via….”
Another example when you click on “Full text” Maximise window and click on “article via …..”
Maximise window and click on “Article via….”

54. Another example when you click on “Full text” – Choice of platforms

55. Completion of search : LOGOFF
Click here to LOGOFF

56. Medline HELP
On the Medical Library homepage:
You will find a link:
10 Ways to improve your Medline search
Ask your Information Specialist

57. TYDS@TUKS Full text journals

58. TYDS@TUKS / Electronic Journals
is the place to find full text electronic journals available at the AIS
Journals available from different vendors
Library registration essential
Need Adobe Acrobat

59. To access Tyds@Tuks / eJournals
Click on eJournals

60. Type in surname/student number

61. …or type title in find block

62. Title display with vendor options ~ click on vendor to go to journal

63. Choose appropriate volume & issue

64. Choose article from content page
Interactive linking = .html
Version as is in journal = .pdf

65. Your full text article!

66. (Elektroniese biblioteek katalogus) (Electronic library catalogue)
UPExplore
(Elektroniese biblioteek katalogus)
(Electronic library catalogue)
Hoe om boeke, joernale en oudiovisuele materiaal in die Akademiese Inligtingsdiens op te spoor
_____________
How to find books, journals and audiovisual material in the Academic Information Service

67. Click here to access the Library Catalogue
Click on “Catalogue”
Click here to access the Library Catalogue

68. Click on “drop-down” to search
Kies / Choose: View Entire Collection
Click on “drop-down” to search

69. Type in Title of Book Choose Title
Click on “Search”

70. Helping Tools Databases Electronic Full Text Journals
Library Catalogue (UP Explore)
Vancouver Reference Technique
Abbreviated list of journals (needed for Vancouver)

71. General information on Journals
Click on “Journals”

73. Vancouver Reference Technique

74. Journal Abbreviations

75. Access to “Student Blocks”
Click on “Student Blocks”

76. Block SA3

77. Searching is relaxing and fun!
In case of problems, as said: Contact one of the Information Specialists!
Searching is relaxing and fun!
Searching is relaxing and fun!