BUMC MEDLINE Plus/OVID Tutorial


Boston University Medical Center
Alumni Medical Library

Tutorial Menu Options
Tutorial Home
Instructions for Using this Tutorial
Developing Your Search Strategy
Formulating Your Question
Choosing An Appropriate Database
Selecting the Best Terms
Advantages and Disadvantages of Text Word and Title Word Searching
Selecting the Best Medical Subject Headings
Quiz Section I: Text Word vs. MeSH Searching
Mapping
Subheadings
Tree Display
Explode Function
Focus Function
Combining Sets
Quiz Section II: Combining Sets
Limiting
Quiz Section III: Reviewing the Explode, Focus, Subheadings, and Limit Options
Viewing or Displaying Search Results
Full Text Options
Printing, E-Mailing, and Saving Search Results
Ordering Articles
Searching Tips, Hints, & Reminders
Tutorial Evaluation
Additional Tutorial Topics
Explaining OVID's Main Menu Icons
Searching for a Specific Author
Searching for Title Words
Searching for Journal Names


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You will exit this tutorial when you click on the links below:

SEARCHING FOR A SPECIFIC AUTHOR

Authors names are indexed in the MEDLINE database in the "author field" section of the citations. The author field includes authors' last names, first initials, and second initials, if known. The authors' full first names are NOT part of a MEDLINE record. Below is a citation, with the authors' names in bold:

Wagner, R. & Johansen, M. (2000). Applying NIH Protocols for Pediatric Care in the Clinical Setting. JAMA, 765(20), 72-4.


Searching Option #1: Using the Menu Commands

One of the easiest and most direct ways to search for an author (or authors) is to use the OVID menu prompts.
Click on   Author icon, which is located at the top of OVID's main menu. Then, type in the author's last name, and first initial (if you know it). OVID will present a list of authors' names, from which you can select the one(s) that you want.


Searching Option #2: Using Direct Entry to Bypass Menu Options

Another way to identify authors is to bypass the menu opions and search via direct entry. Using direct entry, you can enter the author's name directly in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:

Format:
lastname-initial(s).au.

If you do not know the author's first or middle initials, use the $ truncation symbol, or wild card character.

Direct entry gives you power to locate an author even if you are unsure of his/her first name or initials. Direct entry author search also allows you to retrieve all of the articles by the same author, even if that person publishes both with and without his/her middle initials. Some examples are below:

EXAMPLES

  • Format:
    lastname-initial(s).au.
    If you do not know the author's first or middle initials, use the $ truncation symbol, or wild card character.

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    corey-g.au.
    will retrieve articles indexed to Gordon Corey, Gretchen Corey, or any other authors using just this first initial.

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    corey-gr.au.
    will retrieve citations indexed to Gordon Ralph Corey, Greta Roberta Corey, or any other authors using these 2 initials.

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    corey-g$.au.
    will retrieve citations indexed to Gordon Corey or Gordon Ralph Corey or any other authors using "g" for a first initial and any ($) second initial.

This is what the search results would look like:

# Search History ResultsDisplay
1 corey-g.au. 3 Display
2 corey-gr.au. 13 Display
3 corey-g$.au. 17 Display

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    Van Der May-M.au.
    will retrieve articles indexed to Margaret Van Der May, Michelle Van Der May, Michael Van Der May, or any other authors using just this first initial.

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    Van Der May-MR.au.
    will retrieve citations indexed to Margaret Rebecca Van Der May, Michael Richard Van Der May, or any other authors using these 2 initials.

  • Type in the "Enter Keyword or Phrase" box:
    Van Der May-M$.au.
    will retrieve citations indexed to Margaret Van Der May, or Mark William Van Der May, or Mary Ann Van Der May, or any other authors using "M" for a first initial and any ($) second initial.