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Embase on Ovid – Knowledge Discovery through Indexing (Emtree Thesaurus)

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

Embase

Ovid Training Team

2025-03-12

30 visits

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’?

 

Search Stategy

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]

Launch Search

Reviewers

Primary: Michael Fanning

Secondary: Charlotte Viken

Review Date: 2025-03-12

Expiry Date: 2026-03-10

Original search produced by:

Ovid Training Team

Citation:

OvidGO! Portal. Focused Searches: Embase on Ovid – Knowledge Discovery through Indexing (Emtree Thesaurus) [Internet]. London (UK): Ovid Training Team (Editors); 2025 [updated 2 March 2024; cited 10 March 2025]. Available from: https://tools.ovid.com/ovidgo/searches/view.php?id=103