This tutorial explains how to use MeSH terms and PubMed's Search Builder, Filters, and Clipboard to construct and save osteoporosis research.

1. Building, Limiting and Saving a
PubMed® Search for
Osteoporosis Research
Kathleen McKim
LS5473-Texas Woman’s University
Summer 2012

2. View the Tutorial
http://screencast.com/t/mmtQzjBg34

3. Step #1
• Identify key concepts based on the natural
language query.
• Example: What is the latest, most reliable data
regarding the efficiency of various methods to
prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis?
• KEY CONCEPTS
– Osteoporosis
– Postmenopausal
– Prevention
– Evidence-based

4. Step #2
• Go to www.pubmed.gov to convert key
concepts into appropriate MeSH terms using
the MeSH database.
• Example: osteoporosis
• MeSH Terms
– Osteoporosis
– Osteoporosis, postmenopausal
• Subheading: prevention and control

5. Once you have located your MeSH term, you can chose a
subheading and add it to the search builder on the left. You can
combine as many related MeSH headings as you like.

6. Step #3
• After you have built your
search, click “Search PubMed.”
If you have chosen appropriate
MeSH terms, you will have
good results.
• If you find too many results,
use the Search Filters on the
right side of the screen to limit
your results.

7. Step #4
• Select the articles you are interested in, and send them to the
clipboard for later viewing.

8. For More Information
• View the tutorial “Branching Out: the MeSH
Vocabulary,” available online from the US
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/video/
• For questions, comments or additional help,
please contact Kathleen at mckim@twu.edu