Introduction to Embase

Introduction to Embase

• Embase is a comprehensive biomedical and pharmacological bibliographic database.
• It includes over 32 million biomedical citations and abstracts.
• Offers full-text indexing of drug, disease, and medical device data.
• Claims over 2,900 indexed journals unique to Embase.
• It is a strong database for searching pharmaceutical literature.
• It includes drug searching tools like PICO search, drug search, and disease search.
• Embase has more international journals than PubMed.

Accessing Embase

• Access Embase through the library's website to authenticate as a paid user.
• Navigate to the database section and select Embase.
• It provides access to subscribed content.

Embase Home Page Features

• Search Builder Tools are available.
• Access to Emtree terms (Embase's controlled vocabulary, similar to MeSH terms in PubMed) is available.

Quick Search

• Best for looking up authors, journals, specific articles, or keyword terms.
• Embase suggests Emtree terms (controlled vocabulary) for more targeted searches.
• Target keyword terms to title or abstract for relevance.
• Author names should be entered with the last name first, followed by a space and the first initial.
• Not ideal for comprehensive searches.

PICO Search Builder

• Assists in constructing and executing PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) questions.
• Insert search concepts into the PICO Search Builder.
• The orange word indicates the Emtree term.
• Information about the Emtree term's location within specific categories is available.
• It helps with exploratory searching (e.g., exploring related terms like dementia).
• Explosion captures all terms below the selected term.
• It also provides keyword terms as synonyms to search with a particular topic.
• Synonyms can be turned off if they are too broad.
• Synonyms should be targeted to the title or abstracts.
• Orange indicates controlled vocabulary, while blue indicates keyword terms.
• Embase has drug names, trade names, chemical formulas, and drug-identifying terms.
• Start with Embase when doing searches.
• Additional keyword terms can be added, with the option to target them to the title and abstract.
• Embase shows the number of results before searching.

Viewing Search Results

• Results Filters on the left are related to the search results.
• Filters can narrow or focus the search (e.g., by drug, study type, or trade name).
• The search results can be rerun with limitations like date range or language.
• It is recommended to only select languages with medical proficiency.
• Evidence-based medicine filters are helpful for restricting to main study types or systematic reviews.
• Search terms are highlighted in the article results.
• Full text can be accessed via the "find it at UF" link.
• Drug and disease terms associated with the article are displayed.
• Side effects are categorized under disease terms.
• Reviewing article abstracts can help identify additional terms to strengthen the search.

PV (Pharmacovigilance) Wizard Search Tool

• It helps check the literature for adverse drug reactions.
• Subheadings like adverse drug reaction, drug toxicity, and drug interaction are automatically included.
• Alternative drug names (synonyms) are available.
• Embase constructs a search query to capture ways an adverse drug reaction is discussed in the literature.
• The query can be edited, but it is recommended for skilled users.
• Special situations (e.g., pregnancy, overdose) can be included.
• The human limit focuses the search on the human population.
• Publication year ranges can be included.

Additional Search Features

• Access to American Medical Association's Medical Literature Monitoring searches with a free Elsevier account.
• Medical device search feature.
• Advanced feature with drug search options (drug fields, manufacturers, trade names, subheadings, administration routes).
• Drug search features in Embase are easier to use than in PubMed.

Exporting Results

• Save articles to a citation management software system.
• RIS format is generally compatible with most citation software.
• Export the selected results in RIS format and import them to EndNote, Mendeley, or other software.