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

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

Embase

Ovid Training Team

2025-03-12

32 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 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?

 

Search Stategy

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

 

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 Deep 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=104