Searching the literature using medical subject headings versus text word with PubMed.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the performance of two search strategies in the retrieval of information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery related conditions and diagnoses using PubMed.


METHODS
Two search strategies-one based on the use of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the second based on text word searching-were compared.


RESULTS
The MeSH search provided a more efficient search than the text word search.


CONCLUSIONS
Head and neck surgeons can most efficiently search the NLM using PubMed as a search engine by initiating the search with MeSH terms. Once a key article is identified, the searcher should use the "Related Articles" feature.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, and the VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.
Angela A
AA
Chang
Karen M
KM
Heskett
Terence M
TM
Davidson
D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D046650:Medical Subject Headings; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D039781:PubMed; D009626:Terminology as Topic