Current Medicine Research and Practice (Jan 2011)
How to search the medical literature
Abstract
Searching the medical literature is often difficult and sometimes quite confusing. It is important to know the available databases and search tools along with their strengths and limitations. PubMed is the most commonly used search system which was developed by the National Library of Medicine, USA. It uses MEDLINE database, formerly the Index Medicus. Framing a valid and precise research question, identifying appropriate key words and knowledge of search strategies is the key to successful literature search.
