Five large Chinese biomedical bibliographic databases: accessibility and coverage.
BACKGROUND
Much biomedical research is now undertaken in China.


METHODS
Five large biomedical databases originating from China (CBM, CMCC, CNKI, VIP and WANFANG) are described and their utility and accessibility investigated.


RESULTS
These databases index 2500 journals largely not familiar to MEDLINE users. Free access, search features, record selection, ease of downloading and cost of subscription varies considerably between databases.


CONCLUSIONS
Searches in all databases benefit from the use of simplified Chinese and all provide links to full text articles. Less than 6% of the 2500 journals in the five databases were listed as being indexed for MEDLINE.
Xia
Jun
J
Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Jun.Xia@leedspft.nhs.uk
Wright
Judith
J
Adams
Clive E
CE
D015706:Bibliometrics; D002681:China; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016243:Library Collection Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007999:Library Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016239:MEDLINE; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*