The Medline catalog is a comprehensive database of medical literature, providing access to a vast array of publications, including journals, books, and conference proceedings. As a trusted source of medical information, the Medline catalog is widely used by healthcare professionals, researchers, and students to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. With its extensive coverage of biomedical topics, the Medline catalog is an essential resource for anyone seeking to advance their knowledge and understanding of medical science.
History and Development of Medline
The Medline catalog has a rich history, dating back to the 1960s when it was first introduced as a printed index of medical literature. Over the years, the catalog has undergone significant transformations, with the advent of digital technology enabling the creation of a searchable online database. Today, the Medline catalog is maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the database. With its extensive coverage of medical literature, the Medline catalog has become an indispensable tool for medical research and education.
Key Features of the Medline Catalog
The Medline catalog offers a range of features that make it an essential resource for medical professionals and researchers. Some of the key features include:
- Comprehensive coverage: The Medline catalog provides access to over 24 million citations from more than 5,600 biomedical journals, as well as conference proceedings, books, and other publications.
- Advanced search functionality: The catalog’s search interface allows users to perform complex searches using a range of criteria, including author, title, keyword, and publication date.
- Linking to full-text articles: Many citations in the Medline catalog include links to full-text articles, enabling users to access the complete text of publications.
- MeSH indexing: The Medline catalog uses the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) system to index publications, allowing users to search for articles using standardized keywords and phrases.
| Database Statistics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of citations | 24,143,219 |
| Number of journals | 5,639 |
| Number of books | 123,411 |
| Number of conference proceedings | 23,119 |
Using the Medline Catalog for Research
The Medline catalog is a powerful tool for medical research, enabling users to search for publications on specific topics and retrieve relevant citations. To get the most out of the catalog, researchers should:
- Use specific keywords and phrases: Using relevant keywords and phrases can help researchers narrow down their search results and retrieve the most relevant citations.
- Take advantage of MeSH indexing: The MeSH system provides a standardized way of indexing publications, allowing researchers to search for articles using specific keywords and phrases.
- Use advanced search features: The Medline catalog’s advanced search interface allows researchers to perform complex searches using a range of criteria, including author, title, keyword, and publication date.
Tips for Searching the Medline Catalog
To get the most out of the Medline catalog, researchers should follow these tips:
- Use quotes to search for phrases: Using quotes can help researchers search for specific phrases and retrieve relevant citations.
- Use the asterisk symbol to truncate search terms: The asterisk symbol can be used to truncate search terms and retrieve citations that contain variations of the search term.
- Use the OR operator to search for multiple terms: The OR operator can be used to search for multiple terms and retrieve citations that contain any of the search terms.
Key Points
- The Medline catalog is a comprehensive database of medical literature, providing access to over 24 million citations from more than 5,600 biomedical journals.
- The catalog's advanced search interface allows users to perform complex searches using a range of criteria, including author, title, keyword, and publication date.
- The MeSH system provides a standardized way of indexing publications, allowing users to search for articles using specific keywords and phrases.
- Researchers can use specific keywords and phrases, MeSH indexing, and advanced search features to retrieve relevant citations.
- Using quotes to search for phrases, the asterisk symbol to truncate search terms, and the OR operator to search for multiple terms can help researchers get the most out of the Medline catalog.
Conclusion
The Medline catalog is an essential resource for medical professionals and researchers, providing access to a vast array of publications and enabling users to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. By using the catalog’s advanced search features, MeSH indexing, and following tips for searching, researchers can retrieve relevant citations and advance their knowledge and understanding of medical science.
What is the Medline catalog?
+The Medline catalog is a comprehensive database of medical literature, providing access to over 24 million citations from more than 5,600 biomedical journals.
How do I search the Medline catalog?
+To search the Medline catalog, use the advanced search interface to perform complex searches using a range of criteria, including author, title, keyword, and publication date.
What is MeSH indexing?
+MeSH indexing is a standardized system used to index publications in the Medline catalog, allowing users to search for articles using specific keywords and phrases.