The Advanced Search bar allows you to specify your search result easily before searching. To do so, use the drop-down menus.
► Choose Sources to select Embase, MEDLINE or both.
► Choose Fields to search (e.g.) in Title or Abstract only.
► Choose EBM for instance if you mainly search for Randomized Controlled Trials.
► Choose Pub. type to select Article: Embase contains many Conference Papers, which are often less useful for a literature research.
► Choose Gender to search specifically for research on male or female patients.
By using Boolean Search options, you can combine search terms in different ways. This is useful for searching more strictly for literature that is relevant to you.
| AND |
Both your search terms appear in the search result.
|
| OR |
At least one of the search terms appears in the search result.
|
| NOT |
The search term after NOT does not appear in the search result.
|
| NEAR | The keyword before NEAR is at most ten words away from the word behind NEAR in the search result. |
| ONEAR | The keywords to the left and right of ONEAR appear near each other (at most ten words away) and in the same order. TIP: You can specify the maximum desirable distance between two search terms. → Search for: 'heart failure' NEAR/6 excercise |
Also make use of inverted commas or wildcards.
| '...' | If you want to search on a phrase or multiple words that belong together. You search on an exact word combination, such as: 'health related quality of life'. |
| * | The * wildcard stands for any number of letters. For example, with cardi* you can find: cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular agent, cardiac disease etc. |
| ? | This wildcard replaces one character. For instance: With organi?ation you search organisation and organization. |
Sometimes it can be useful to use broader or narrower search terms. If you are looking for literature on the treatment of Heart Failure, you might also consider searching for Heart Disease.
Do you want to search as broadly as possible and include all the narrower search terms in your search? Then go to Mapping and choose Explode using narrower Emtree terms or Search as broadly as possible.
