Keyword search
•Tries to automatically map to MeSH as well as searching terms in All Fields
•More comprehensive, will include more recent citations that haven’t been indexed yet
•Necessary for new and emerging topics and trademarked names
MeSH search
•Using MeSH subject headings is more focused and precise
•Can limit to major topic and use subheadings to focus on a specific aspect of a topic
•Use when automatic term mapping is not effective. See definitions of MeSH terms and choose the best one(s) for your concept.
•Will not find newest article citations that have yet to be indexed
Use the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) Database to:
•Locate and select MeSH terms for use in PubMed searches
•See the definition and other helpful information for a MeSH term
•See the position of MeSH terms in the hierarchy and find narrower or broader terms if needed
•Select MeSH heading/subheading combinations to build a PubMed search