Medical Residents & Fellows

Best Evidence

There are a number of resources, both free and purchased by the library, that are focused on finding systematic reviews, evidence-based guidelines and clinical trials.

Subject-Focused Databases

There are thousands of databases that index journals based on subject or topic. The library subscribes to hundreds, but here is a list of some of the most well-known and content-rich databases for the health sciences.

Having difficulty locating the full text of a journal article?

UNLV Libraries provides interlibrary loan services to UNLV faculty, staff, students, residents/fellows through ILLiad. Select the image below to view a step-by-step process for getting set up with interlibrary loan services and requesting a journal article through interlibrary loan.

New User?

• Interlibrary Loan Guide
• First Time User Registration for ILLiad
• Obtaining your RebelCard ID/Number
• Requesting a Library Barcode ID/Number

Returning User?

• ILLiad Login Page

Still need assistance?

• ILL Office Hours: Monday - Friday  9:00am - 5:00pm
• Email: illiad@unlv.edu
• Phone: (702) 895-2152

Before heading off to the databases, it is important to have a search strategy in mind and to understand how that strategy might change with the different databases you search. Key components of excellent searching include:

• A well-defined clinical question with an appropriate scope
• Carefully considered keywords for each element of your question
• Understanding search string logic, such as Boolean operators, parenthesis, quotation marks and truncation symbols
• Awareness of which databases will be best to search to find the most pertinent information (not everything is in PubMed!)

One strategy for accomplishing items 1 & 2 is the PICO method. By defining each element in the PICO acronym, you can easily create a focused question and generate appropriate keywords. It can also help you to understand how to use search string logic to appropriately combine keywords and concepts into an efficient but complex search.

If you would like assistance in creating an efficient search strategy or workflow, please contact the librarians via medlib@unlv.edu and we'd be happy to schedule a time to meet with you.

Synonyms can be very helpful throughout the investigative and research process. Using synonyms with boolean operators can potentially expand your search. Databases with subject headings or controlled vocabularies like MeSH in PubMed often have a thesaurus that can match you with appropriate terms.

Boolean operators allow you to manipulate your search.

• Use AND to narrow your search
  •   eg. teen AND diabetes 
• Use OR to broaden your search
  •   eg. adolescent OR teen
• Use NOT to exclude terms from your search
  •   eg. children NOT infants