Ovid Tutorial Hardin Library for the Health Sciences

This module covers… A tour of the Ovid databases including how to: Perform a subject search Combine search statements View, print, download & citations Obtain full text articles when available

Ovid Databases To search the Ovid databases which include Medline, CINAHL (Nursing), PsycINFO, HAPI (Health & Psychosocial Instruments), Current Contents and more go to:

Database Screen Click on a database to begin your search.

Search Screen Type a single concept in the Enter Keyword or phrase box.

Search Screen-Enter Search Term Type a single concept in the Enter Keyword or phrase box. Click the Perform Search button.

Mapping Display-Controlled Vocabulary This is the Mapping Display which lists the top 10 controlled vocabulary terms plus the term you entered as Keyword.

Mapping Display-Scope Note To see more information about your term or heading click here.

Scope Note This is the Scope Note for Myocardial Infarction. It includes a definition, when the term was added to the thesarus, previous terms, see related references, and more. Click on “Previous Page” to return to the Mapping Display.

Mapping Display-Tree Structure To view the subject heading’s “tree structure” click on a subject heading.

Tree Structure This is the Tree for Myocardial Infarction.

Tree Structure Terms in tree go from more general to more specific.

Tree Structure-Explode Terms in tree go from more general to more specific. Select the Explode box if you wish to retrieve citations using the selected term and all of its more specific terms.

Tree Structure-Restrict to Focus Terms in tree go from more general to more specific. Select the Explode box if you wish to retrieve citations using the selected term and all of its more specific terms. Select the Focus box if you wish to limit your search to those documents in which your subject heading is considered the major point or focus of the article.

Tree Structure Click the “Continue” button OR, in this case, the “Previous Page” button to return to the Mapping Display.

Mapping Display-Select Term The subject heading “Myocardial Infarction” has been selected.

Mapping Display-Explode The subject heading “Myocardial Infarction” has been selected. To include the two narrower terms in the tree, “Myocardial Stunning” & “Shock, Cardiogenic” check the Explode box.

Mapping Display-Restrict to Focus The subject heading “Myocardial Infarction” has been selected. To include the two narrower terms in the tree, “Myocardial Stunning” & “Shock, Cardiogenic” check the Explode box. Check the Focus box to limit the results to documents in which “Myocardial Infarction” (& the narrower terms) are the focus or major point of the article.

Subheadings Subheadings can be used to restrict the focus of your search. Select one or more subheadings by clicking in the checkbox that precedes each desired subheading. In this case, click “Continue” to include all subheadings.

Search Screen-Search Results Exploding ( exp ) the subject heading and restricting it to focus (*) retrieves 17,584 citations.

Search Screen-Enter 2 nd Search Term Enter 2 nd search concept

Mapping Display The Subject Heading “Aspirin” is at the bottom of the tree (it is the most specific term in the hierarchy) so “exploding” the term is unnecessary. For this example we will click continue without “exploding” or restricting to “focus”.

Subheadings Select one or more subheadings by clicking in the checkbox that precedes each desired subheading. In this case, click “Continue” to include all subheadings.

Search Results Screen- Combine Icon Click on the Combine icon to combine 2 or more search statements.

Combine Searches Screen Select the terms and combine with the boolean operator “AND”.

Search Results Combining the two terms retrieves 575 citations.

Limit Search Results To limit your search results select one or more of the options below and click Perform Search. For this example, articles limited to Human and English Language will be retrieved.

Search Results-Limit By limiting the results to Human and English Language the results have been reduced to 472 citations.

Limit Icon To apply additional limits click on the Limit icon.

Limit a Search page You may further limit your search by language, age group, publication type, and much more. For this example we will return to the main search screen without selecting additional limits.

Display Results Click the Display button to view the first 20 citations.

Titles Display This is the Titles Display. It includes the author(s), article title, journal, and local holdings information for the first 20 citations. To view the next 20 you will need to click on the “Next Citation(s)” button.

Complete Reference To view a more complete citation, including an abstract, if available, you will need to click on Complete Reference.

Select a Citation Click the checkbox next to the article to “select” it for later printing, downloading, or ing.

InfoLink Button To see if this article is available online or in print at the Hardin Library, click on the yellow InfoLink button.

InfoLink Page This article is available full text from both the AMA and Click on the first link to view the full text through AMA.

Full Text Article Your Ovid session will remain open for 15 minutes while you view the full text article. Enlarge the window to read or print the article text.

Full Text Article Remember to return to your Ovid session to either continue your search or log off.

Print, , Download Citations To Print, or Download (“Save”) your citations scroll down to the bottom of the page to use the Citation Manager. To print, click on the DISPLAY or PRINT PREVIEW button.

Print From this page select File / Print

From the Citation Manager click on to send citations to yourself or a colleague.

Order (ILL/ADS) From the Citation Manager click on ORDER to request photocopies of the articles. If an article is not owned by the University Libraries we will attempt to get it for you through Interlibrary Loan. There is no charge for this service. If an item is owned by the Libraries we can photocopy and deliver an article within hours. $3 minimum per article.

Change Database Icon Click on the “Change Database” icon to re-run your search in another Ovid database.

Select New Database Click on a new database

Re-Execute Search Click the “Open and Re-Execute” button to run the search in your new database.

Search by Author, Title, and more To search by journal name, author, article title, or most any other field use the first four icons across the top.

Us for Assistance Need help? Ask us!

Us for Assistance We will get back to you within 24 hours (Monday – Friday). Or, call the Information Desk at 319/

Go to Ovid Thank You! Hardin Library for the Health Sciences The University of Iowa Libraries 2003