PubMed

Why Use Field Codes

PubMed cannot search the full text. Instead, it searches on several other fields to help with searching. These field codes can help further refine a search. 

Field codes worth noting:

• [Title/Abstract] or [tiab] - Title or Abstract
• [title] or [ti] - Title
• [au] - Author
• [1au] - First author

It is often recommended to limit your search to Title or Abstract. This can be done two different ways as seen below.

Using PubMed Advanced Search Builder

1. In the Advanced Search Builder page, you will want to change "All Fields" to "Title/Abstract"

2. Type (or paste) your search terms into the search box, then click "ADD"

3. This should have added [Title/Abstract] after every keyword. When you click "Search" you results will only have the keywords in the title or abstract. 

Using [tiab]

You can also just type [tiab] after every keyword in any PubMed search box. 

Combining searches can be helpful when you want to build a more comprehensive search strategy. Searches can be combined using AND or OR. When you combine searches using AND you will narrow your results. When you combine searches using OR you will broaden your results. 

1. To combine searches you will go "Advanced." Here you will be able to see your search history. 

2. Then you will click on the "..." next to the first search you wish to combine. Next you will click on "Add Query" this will add your search to the query box. If you do not have a search history, you will first need to search on your key concepts.

3. Now you will do the same with your second search. Click "..." next to the second search, then you will be choose what operator you want to combine with AND, OR, or NOT. 

Remember:

• Use AND to find results that contain all of the specified search terms. 
• Use OR to find results that contain at least one of the specified search terms, including synonyms or variations of a concept. 
• Use NOT to exclude specific keywords from your search, but use it with caution as you might miss relevant information

4.  Once you select your chosen operator, your combines search should appear in the query box. You can now search on your combined searches. 

You can also combine searches by simply typing the corresponding numbers of the search in the search box. 

"Subtracting" searches can be useful when you want to compare two different search strategies. This is done using the NOT function in Advanced Search.

In this example, we will compare the two searches below:

• Search 1: (child* OR youth OR teen*) AND (caffeine) 
• Search 2: (child* OR youth OR teen* OR infant* OR kid OR kids) AND (caffein* OR coffee OR "energy drink")

1. First, run the separate searches in PubMed. Next, go into Advanced Search  to view your search history.

2. Then you will click on the "..." next to the search with the most results. Next you will click on "Add Query" this will add your search to the query box

Note: You will need to add the search with the most results first, otherwise you will not be able to "subtract" the two searches.

3. Now you will do the same with your other search. Click "..." next to the other search, This time you will combine using the NOT operator. 

4.  Once you added the other search using the NOT operator, your "subtraction" search should appear in the query box. You should now be able to see the different results Search 2 returned by adding all those additional keywords. 

You can also "subtract" searches by simply typing the corresponding numbers of the search in the search box and using the NOT operator. In this case, you would search on #2 NOT #1

Users can limit the amount of results generated by a search by using filters. Filters can be found on the left hand side of the search results screen, once a search has been completed. To see all limit options, select  "Additional Filters" all the way at the bottom.

Some of the filters worth noting include:

• Publication date
• Article type
• Article language
• MEDLINE

Note: Some of the filters like article language and MEDLINE can only be seen when you click on "Additional Filters"