How to retrieve and display a single article reference, cited in two different databases, Embase on Ovid and Ovid MEDLINE, in order to compare the content and format of the database record for the respective resource.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

This focused search, conducted across two databases (Embase on Ovid and Ovid MEDLINE) in a single session, retrieves two versions of the same article. One version is from Embase on Ovid, the other from Ovid MEDLINE. By comparing these two versions (it is suggested in two different browser windows) you will be able to compare the similarities and differences in the respective displays of each of the records.

Points to note:

• There are a range of similarities and differences between A&I bibliographic databases.
• Similarities include the way in which the records are constructed, editorial processes, the use of controlled vocabularies for indexing, limits, author keyword inclusion, how the records may be searched and how the results are displayed.
• However, differences may also be evident in these very areas, i.e. in way in which the records are constructed, editorial processes, the use of controlled vocabularies for indexing, author keyword inclusion, how the records may be searched and how the results are displayed etc.
• An awareness of the similarities and differences between A&I bibliographic databases will make for a better understanding of them and help in the construction of search strategies.

Instructions:

1. Logon to Ovid, select Embase <1974 to Present> and Ovid MEDLINE <1946 to Present>.
2. Select the Advanced Search / Title mode.
3. Enter the article title as the search for this focused search as listed below.
4. Alternatively, having not yet logged on,  <Click here> to run this focused search above in Ovid.

[Prioritization of research questions in health crises-presentation of a concept developed during the COVID-19 pandemic]

which yields...

"[Prioritization of research questions in health crises-presentation of a concept developed during the COVID-19 pandemic]".m_titl.

Questions:

1. Do both versions display the same Keyword Headings? If so, why is this the case?
2. How many major topics are listed in each of the two bibliographic records?
3. You want to send an e-mail to the corresponding author. Which record provides the relevant information?

Strategy

"[Prioritization of research questions in health crises-presentation of a concept developed during the COVID-19 pandemic]".m_titl.

How to use the database command 'docz.dz.' and the Status (ST) field to identify the constituent parts of Embase on Ovid and show their relative sizes.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

The docz.dz Command
Entered at the command line in any of Embase on Ovid’s search modes, you can use the docz.dz command on any database on Ovid to establish the number of records in the resource. By combining this database command with database fields such as Status (ST) or Publication Type (PT), either individually or in combination, it becomes possible to imagine the ‘shape’ of the database. By this is meant the database’s structure, its composition in terms of database fields, its indexing processes, controlled vocabulary and limits options. These are database properties you need to know, be aware of  and consider when designing search strategies as they may have a material impact on your searches, their construction, execution and rendered outcomes.    

This focused search, launched on Embase on Ovid, will provide you with information on the total number of records in the database at the time the search is run. In other words, the database ‘size’. Then by separating out the database records according to their editorial status, that is by using the Status (ST) field, it is possible to view the database in terms of its constituent parts. This is what is meant here by the ‘shape’ of the database. This perspective, indeed the precise information, can also be used when constructing searches to swiftly narrow down to a specific document or publication type. For example, to conference materials or only Embase articles.

Points to note:

• Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) databases are the most reliable and best verifiable sources of scientific information and are indispensable for systematic literature searching.
• Generally speaking, A&I databases are composed of structured and searchable bibliographic records, many of which now increasingly also link out to their full-text original documents.
• Composed of tens of millions of bibliographic records, these information repositories are diverse, highly structured, regularly updated and thereby relentlessly dynamic.
• Their large size and relentless dynamism remains opaque to many users and as a result can be potentially problematic to investigating researchers and healthcare professionals.

Instructions:

1. Logon to Ovid, select Embase <1974 to Present>, select the Advanced Search / Keyword mode.
2. Enter the search lines for this focused search as listed below.
3. Alternatively, having not yet logged on,  <Click here> to run this focused search above in Ovid.

docz.dz.
limit 1 to article-in-press status
limit 1 to conference abstract status
limit 1 to embase status
limit 1 to in-process status
limit 1 to in-data-review
limit 1 to in-process
limit 1 to pubmed-not-medline
limit 1 to "pubmed/medline"
limit 1 to publisher
limit 1 to "preprint (unpublished, non-peer reviewed)"
2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11

Questions:

1. What proportion of the database are conference materials?
2. List at least two sources of preprint servers
3. Could you conduct a thesaurus search on the PubMed-not-MEDLINE NLM records?

Strategy

docz.dz.
limit 1 to article-in-press status
limit 1 to conference abstract status
limit 1 to embase status
limit 1 to in-process status
limit 1 to in-data-review
limit 1 to in-process
limit 1 to pubmed-not-medline
limit 1 to "pubmed/medline"
limit 1 to publisher
limit 1 to "preprint (unpublished, non-peer reviewed)"
2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11

How to locate and exploit index terms on Embase on Ovid using the Emtree thesaurus.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

This focused search will provide you with a quick introduction to indexing on Embase on Ovid. The focused search demonstrates how an entry term (as given in the search lines below in bold script) is mapped onto its equivalent thesaurus term in the Emtree controlled vocabulary.

Points to note:

• In Embase all articles and other publication types are indexed.
• Indexing is based upon the Elsevier Life Sciences Thesaurus, Emtree.
• Records are indexed with as many Emtree terms as are required to describe their content.
• Of note is that the Emtree thesaurus focuses specifically on diseases, drugs and devices (3 x D’s).
• However, irrespective of its topic, each record is first indexed by automatic indexing.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices are then subject to further manual indexing.

Instructions:

1. Logon to Ovid, select Embase <1974 to Present>, select the Advanced Search / Keyword mode.
2. Enter the search lines for this focused search as listed below using the given entry terms.
3. Alternatively, having not yet logged on,  <Click here> to run this focused search above in Ovid.

migraine/ [Entry term: migraine]
coronavirus disease 2019/ [Entry term: covid]
palbociclib/ [Entry term: Ibrance]
methylphenidate/ [Entry term: Ritalin]
coronary stent/ [Entry term: coronary stent]
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging/ [Entry term: mri]
health care access/ [Entry term: access to healthcare]
artificial intelligence/ [Entry term: artificial intelligence]

Questions:

1. How many sub-headings are available for each of the search expressions?
2. Would it be helpful to ‘explode’ the drug terms, ‘palbociclib’ and ‘methylphenidate’?
3. How could you further narrow your search to only ‘drug eluting coronary stents’?

Strategy

migraine/ [Entry term: migraine]
coronavirus disease 2019/ [Entry term: covid]
palbociclib/ [Entry term: Ibrance]
methylphenidate/ [Entry term: Ritalin]
coronary stent/ [Entry term: coronary stent]
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging/ [Entry term: mri]
health care access/ [Entry term: access to healthcare]
artificial intelligence/ [Entry term: artificial intelligence]

How to develop simple yet informational reliable searches using Emtree's deep indexing of diseases, drugs and devices.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

This focused search highlights Embase’s deep indexing features and functionality which are unique to Embase. While the focused search in this section consists of only three lines, it is very targeted, informationally concise and provides the basis for further in-depth investigation using Embase’s triple sub-headings.

Points to note:

• On Embase indexing is carried out according to well-defined guidelines summarized in the Embase Indexing Guide (the current versions being 2024).
• Manually indexed records address the full-text of the indexed document not just its title, or abstract or keywords (if available).
• Emtree contains approximately 99,000 biomedical preferred terms as well as 548,000 synonyms ordered in 14 facets, the latter being major, broad spanning, subject categories.
• The largest facet ‘chemicals and drugs’ includes drugs and chemical entities of every kind.
• By contrast ‘clinical drugs’, a sub-category of ‘drugs’, are indexed in greater depth and can also be modified by using drug sub-headings.
• Device terms are index terms used for all devices, not just therapeutic devices.

Instructions:

1. Logon to Ovid, select Embase <1974 to Present>, select the Advanced Search / Title mode.
2. Enter the search lines for this focused search as listed below.
3. Alternatively, having not yet logged on,  <Click here> to run this focused search above in Ovid.

exp palbociclib/ae [Adverse Drug Reaction]
exp neutropenia/si [Side Effect]
1 and 2        

Questions:

1. Are there benefits to exploding the Emtree term ‘palbociclib’?
2. Are there benefits to exploding the Emtree term ‘neutropenia’?
3. How could you focus the search without going back to the Emtree thesaurus?

Strategy

exp palbociclib/ae [Adverse Drug Reaction]
exp neutropenia/si [Side Effect]
1 and 2   

How to construct searches using either a user defined group of fields or the database specific ‘multi-purpose’ (.mp) set of fields as provided by Ovid.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

When using the Advanced Search mode in a bibliographic database like Embase on Ovid, it is common practice to enter a search term followed by the field or fields you want Ovid to search in. For example, the search expression (adolescent$ or young adult$).ti,ab,kf. (see this Focused Search, line #1) tells Ovid to search for the terms adolescent or adolescents or young adult or young adults in the Title (TI) field as well as the Abstract (AB) and Keyword Heading (KF) fields. This kind of search is referred to as a qualified search in the sense that the instruction to the database is explicit, namely “go and look for these specific terms in these specific fields, that I, the user have selected.”

But as noted in a previous Focused Search, databases vary not only in size but also in terms of their “shape”. You may, for instance, be uncertain about the field composition or layout of the database. In such cases Ovid can help out with the multi-purpose or .mp search. This is described as an unqualified search across a default set of fields which are specific to the database being used.

In this case, the example as used above would be entered as (adolescent$ or young adult$).mp. For Embase the default set of fields across which Ovid will search are:

title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword heading word, floating subheading word, candidate term word.

Because the default fields to be covered by an .mp search are pre-determined, .mp based searches lend themselves well to cross database searching. In this sense the .mp search option is a helpful supplement to Ovid’s Basic Search which is also able to carry search expressions easily across multiple databases.

Practice Suggestions:

1. Combine and compare this Focused Search with the Basic Search adolescents adhd ritalin adverse effects {Including Related Terms}. Note that in the Basic Search the search line adolescents adhd ritalin adverse effects {Including Related Terms} has as its search type Basic. But when you limit this line to Five Stars, the search type changes to Advanced. This now enables you to combine this result set with the results in this .mp example. Do the numbers differ greatly?
2. Use the Change option to run this Focused Search through Ovid MEDLINE. Do both versions of the search, i.e. the lines using .ti,ab,kf. as opposed to .mp, run properly? How could you easily compare the results obtained in Ovid MEDLINE with those from Embase on Ovid?
3. Use the Change option to run this Focused Search through APA PsycInfo. Do both versions of the search, i.e. the lines using .ti,ab,kf. as opposed to .mp, run properly? How can you tell? Identify two markers that tell you.

Strategy

(adolescent$ or young adult$).ti,ab,kf. [Version 1: User defined group of fields]
(adhd or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).ti,ab,kf.
(ritalin or methylphenidate$).ti,ab,kf.
(adverse effect$ or adverse event$ or untoward effect$).ti,ab,kf.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4
(adolescent$ or young adult$).mp. [Version 2: Ovid .mp defined group of fields]
(adhd or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).mp.
(ritalin or methylphenidate$).mp.
(adverse effect$ or adverse event$ or untoward effect$).mp.
6 and 7 and 8 and 9

How to fine tune individual search lines as well as whole search queries using user-selected criteria, called ‘limits’.

Background

Embase, produced by the academic publishing and information analytics company Elsevier B.V., is one of the largest and most comprehensive Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database for peer-reviewed biomedical information. The Embase database covers all disciplines of medical and biomedical science as well as Allied Health subjects.

Embase on Ovid – Facts and Figures (1)

• A bibliographic database, Embase is made up of over 41 million database records.
• Over 1.7 million records are added each year.
• Database records are indexed using Emtree, the Elsevier Life Science Thesaurus.
• Conference materials, currently at over 5 million records, have been included since 2009.
• Preprint records, from several sources, have been included since November 2021.
• All database records are indexed using automated means and procedures.
• Records pertaining to diseases, drugs and devices undergo further manual indexing.

Training Session Programme

This Learning Pathway series of training modules draws upon the content and teaching approaches in and behind the learning resource OvidGO! (2). Constructed around a selection of focused searches, the training programme has been designed to achieve the following two objectives,

1. to introduce the database, Embase on Ovid, drawing upon where helpful, parallels and comparisons with Ovid MEDLINE,
2. to discuss, demonstrate and practice the key features and functionality of the database Embase on Ovid. 

(1) Reference for the above is the Embase Indexing Guide 2024.
(2). See https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/       

When constructing a search question it is helpful to separate out the search terms and phrases from additional criteria that can be used to systematically reduce your database results down to a manageable number of references. Such additional criteria could be the type of publication; a journal article, a review, a specific type of review, e.g. Cochrane or ACP, a case report or even a letter or  editorial. Other additional criteria could include narrowing down the result set by language or by time. In the context of searching for information on databases, imposing such additional criteria upon a search is referred to as applying ‘limits’. Whilst the idea of employing limits is common to A&I databases, the variety and scope of the ‘limits’ options available to searchers can differ between databases.    

This Focused Search introduces an initial selection of limits available for Embase on Ovid.

The limits can be selected and applied sequentially (see lines #6,#7 and #8) or imposed in a single step (see line #9). The full range of limits available for the database you are searching in, can be viewed and selected by clicking on the Additional Limits option at the bottom of the initial selection display. You can also place the limits, most useful to you, on the initial selection display by selecting the Edit Limits option. Your selection will remain as your initial display selection for the duration of your database session. After which they will return to and re-display the default selection.

For database administrators, please note  however, that the default selection can be customized for you by Ovid Technical Support so that the default selection of limits better addresses your users’ needs. 

Practice Suggestions

1. From the results shown in line #5, how many of them are from preprint servers?
2. Line #6 removes from the total number of records, those that do not have abstracts. Use the NOT operator to determine how many of these records there are? Could they nevertheless still be relevant to the search query? How could you assess this?
3. Narrow the results in line #5 to phase 3 clinical trials. Tip: Display the full list of available limits by clicking on Additional Limits. How would you do this for an equivalent search in Ovid MEDLINE?

Strategy

(adolescent$ or young adult$).mp. [Version 2: Ovid .mp defined group of fields]
(adhd or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).mp.
(ritalin or methylphenidate$).mp.
(adverse effect$ or adverse event$ or untoward effect$).mp.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4
limit 5 to abstracts
limit 6 to full text
limit 7 to yr=”2020 -Current”
limit 5 to (abstracts and full text and yr=”2020 -Current”)