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Ovid databases

A guide to using the OVID database platform.

Ovid Advanced search

When do I use Advanced Search?

Advanced search has more options and control than Basic Search. It is recommended for:
 

a complex search

moral distress AND burnout AND (doctor OR nurse)  AND covid 19 
 

a search with alternative terms

doctor OR nurse
 

a search with Subject Headings

occupational stress/

 

For most searches, such as for literature reviews and systematic reviews, Advanced search is recommended.

 

In a controlled, line-by-line search each term is on a separate line so we can see results and make amendments if needed. 

Watch this video (3 minutes) for line-by-line searching in Ovid, and how to troubleshoot unexpected results.  

 

 Instructions from video

Use Advanced search, this is the default for University of Melbourne Ovid.

  1. Type in keyword (or key term)
     
  2. Press search
     
  3. Select tick box for each line relating to the same concept.
    For more on identifying concepts see Plan your search.
     
  4. Press OR button at bottom of search history.
    The combined lines represent your concept. You may want to check results to see they are as expected.
     
  5. Select tick box for each concept
     
  6. Press AND button at bottom of search history.

There's no autocorrect, check your spelling!

Make sure spelling is accurate. What you type is exactly what is searched for.

Automatic phrase searching, no "quote marks" needed

Ovid searches 2 words or more as a phrase, meaning they have to appear directly after each other in the order they are typed.

Many other databases require quote marks, for example:

Ovid databases  

Other databases

Use .mp. to tidy your search history

 

.mp  =  multipurpose

  • default search in Ovid
  • searches through key database record fields: title, author, abstract, subject headings


How to do it

  • Type .mp. directly after your search terms in the box.


Results

It's easier to view your search history without the fields being listed each line.

This is especially useful when you need to copy the search history table, such has for a systematic review

Truncation searches for variations of word endings.

Example truncaton
Use the asterix * directly after the root of the word.

frontline worker* = frontline worker, frontline workers


Useful for 
Makes your search easier to read by saving space.

Don't trucate too far!

Think carefully about possible words you are searching for, this is a common cause of irrelevant results.

pandemic* = pandemic, pandemics

pandem* = pandemic, pandemics, pandemonium

pande* = pandemic, pandemics, pandemonium, pander, pandering

You don't need to use truncation

If truncation is bringing back irrelevant results, you can search for all the variations directly.

  • Line 2: You want the terms nurse or nurses 
  • Line 3: You want the terms nurse, nurses and nursing 
  • Line 4: You want the terms nurse, nurses and nursing but other terms like nursery are causing irrelevant results.

A proximity search checks how closely search terms appear from each other.

Example proximity search
Use adj and number of words you would like in-between the 2 search terms.

adj1 - next to each other, in any order
adj2 - next to each other, in any order, up to one word between
adj3 - next to each other, in any order, up to two words between

frontline ADJ3 workers =
frontline workers, workers on the frontline, frontline healthcare workers


Useful for

  • concepts expressed by multiple phrases
  • focus on a particular meaning of a word when you have irrelevant results.

Watch this video ( 1 minute) on proximity searching in Ovid

Proximity not working as hoped?

If proximity searching is back irrelevant results, you can

  • try and tweak the adjacency numbers
  • change to AND search
  • change to phrases

Login to Ovid databases

 

You can also access databases from the library home page. Change the main search box to Databases


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