Using Health and Medical Databases
What is Mesh?
MeSH stands for Medical Subject Headings.
MeSH is a controlled vocabulary used for indexing and cataloguing. It is published by The National Library of Medicine in America. Using these medical subject headings enables health professionals, medical librarians, researchers, and students to search for health-related literature more effectively.
If a database uses MeSH Subject Headings you can expect to find all research on a topic will be linked to the appropriate heading. To find MeSH headings you can use the MeSH Browser, which is a vocabulary look-up aid, designed to help quickly locate descriptors of possible interest and to show the hierarchy in which descriptors of interest appear. It is a good way of finding search terms if you are not sure of the exact MeSH terms.
In this example, a search in MeSH Browser for "deep vein thrombosis" identifies the MeSH term as: Venous Thrombosis (Link goes to the MeSH entry). The MeSH Browser will then show you subcategories for the main entry in the “Qualifiers” tab. You might choose "prevention and control" as a subheading under this MeSH term. We can use the main heading and subheading and then combined it with another MeSH term to further narrow the search. This example can easily be searched in PubMed: "Venous Thrombosis/prevention and control"[Mesh] AND "Stockings, Compression"[Mesh]
Understand More about Mesh Terms
- "Using Mesh to Build a Better PubMed Query" created by the NCBI is an excellent introduction to how to use MeSH to build a better PubMed query.
- The National Library of Medicine for Learning has provided a "Foundations of MeSH in Medline tutorial".
How to Access Health and Medical Databases
From the Databases Tab on Library Search, select ‘Databases’ to access Database Search. Using the left side menu, open “Study Areas” and look for ‘Allied health’ or ‘Nursing, Paramedicine and Health’, you can find a wide range of databases that contain Health and Medical information.
How to Use Specialised Health and Medical Databases
The contents below provide more information about how to use PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, JBI via Ovid, MIMS Online:
US National Library of Medicine provides:
- MEDLINE includes research, clinical practice, administration, policy issues and health care services.
- PubMed includes MEDLINE, and some additional content not covered by MEDLINE.
- PubMed Central provides extensive open access archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature, developed by the US National Library of Medicine.
For further information on how these resources differ and the best methods for searching, please see "MEDLINE, PubMed, and PMC (PubMed Central): How are they different?" and the video Health and Medical Databases by the library.
Online Tutorials:
- PubMed Training guide (PDF) by Duke University Medical Center Library
- PubMed Online Training and Handouts by the US National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Embase is a Comprehensive index of the biomedical literature, including all MEDLINE content, with specific search templates for drug, disease, and PICO searches. This is a recommended tool if you are undertaking systematic reviews.
Tutorial Resources:
- Embase Quick User Guide by Elsevier.
- Embase Video Tutorials provides a visual guide for using the database.
- Basic Searching in EMBASE produced by University of Michigan
CINAHL indexes the top nursing and allied health literature available including nursing journals and publications from the National League for Nursing and the American Nurses Association.
EBSCO Tutorial Resources:
Cochrane Library is a collection of databases providing full-text access to evidence-based practice material. It provides evidence for clinical, technological & economic decisions made by health professionals & organisations.
How to use the Cochrane Library
Cochrane Library Training Hub - includes a wealth of videos, webinars, guides, and promotional material that can be printed out on demand.
A range of help videos is also available via the Cochrane YouTube channel and the Cochrane Mental Health YouTube channel.
JBI EPB provides Evidence-based resources and tools designed to assist in the clinical decision-making process and to support best practice. Resources include systematic reviews and protocols, recommended practices, best practices information sheets, consumer information sheets, and evidence summaries. Access is via Ovid and includes access to EBP Tools such as SUMARI, a tool for appraising systematic reviews.
JBI Tutorial Resources:
MIMS Online is a key drug resource containing both abbreviated and comprehensive medicines information, product images and consumer medicines information. MIMS Online also includes “Don't Rush to Crush” a comprehensive oral medicines handbook (accessed via the Clinical Resources tab).
MIMS Online Tutorial: MIMS Online Support & Training
