Why Search PubMed?
PubMed is the free interface for the premier biomedical database, MEDLINE. It was created & is maintained by the National Library of Medicine. PubMed contains both primary & secondary literature. Because it's a free to access, you can use it even when you leave the University of Michigan.
Articles in PubMed are indexed by MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), terms that have specific definitions within the database & help you to create more focused searches.
Running a Search
Enter your search terms, using synonyms, parentheses, & Boolean operators, in the main search bar at the top of the PubMed window, & click the Search button. (See the "Creating a Well-Focused Question" tab on this guide for tips on building your search string).
Focusing Your Search with Filters
Filters, which can be found on the left side of the Search Results page, can help you focus your search appropriately. Categories include Article types, Publication dates, Species, Languages, & Ages.
- Two filters that are almost always useful are Species/Humans (unless you're looking specifically for animal research) and Language/English. Article type/Review will also be useful in this search.
- To add Language, Age, & other categories of filters, click on the Show additional filters link above or below the filter list. Check the filters you want to add, then click the Show button to make the filters appear on the screen. Next choose the filter(s) you want to add.
- When you apply filters, they appear above your search results.
- Remember to clear all filters when you do a new search.