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Search Help

Using Search Functionality

This tab provides information on the most commonly used features for the tab being used. For complete information on New Search including demonstrations, information on error messages, and FAQ's, click here

Using Medical Terms (MeSH) Search

Use the Medical Terms (MeSH) Tab to search for medical concepts using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus. This feature allows users to search complex medical concepts using a single term without the need to type long list of synonyms.
MeSH Search Basics

Advanced MeSH Features

What is MeSH

Medical Subject Headings, or MeSH, is the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) controlled vocabulary thesaurus used by NLM for indexing articles from the leading biomedical journals for MEDLINE®/PubMED®. The thesaurus provides a single entry point (controlled term) to search for Medical concepts that appear in the literature under a variety of different terms or concepts.

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Why should I use MeSH?

MeSH searching allows an easy way to search for medical concepts using a single entry point, without having to enter large lists of synonyms for that concept. Since MeSH is displayed in a hierarchical (tree) structure, it allows users to search, in one step, a single term plus the more specific terms that appear under it in the hierarchy.

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What databases in The Cochrane Library are indexed using MeSH?

The following databases in The Cochrane Library have MeSH headings assigned to them:

  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
    • Cochrane Reviews: Fully Indexed but may take up to 6 months for indexing for “New” reviews to appear
    • Cochrane Protocols: Not Indexed
  • Trials: Medline articles – fully indexed. Records sourced from EMBASE or via handsearching are not indexed
  • Other Reviews: Fully indexed
  • Health Technologies: Fully Indexed
  • Economic Evaluations: Fully Indexed

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Using Auto-suggest

On the MeSH tab, the auto-suggest feature provides a list of all controlled entry terms and synonyms in the MeSH thesaurus. Selecting a term from this list will guarantee a match to an existing MeSH term. If auto-suggest does not provide a suitable match, use the lookup button and review terms listed under “Thesaurus Match” for additional suggestions.

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Using MeSH Search and Lookup

Enter your term in the search box. As the term is typed, suggested terms are presented by the search. Select a term from the auto-suggest list or use the term as entered. Hit the enter key, or click the lookup button, to view appropriate MeSH terms.

  • If using the auto-suggest feature, your term is automatically mapped to the best MeSH term for this concept.
  • If using your term as entered and a specific match is not found, review the terms under the left column, Thesaurus Match, and select the most suitable term from this list.
  • If no MeSH terms are found, try using other synonyms for the concept being searched.

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Why Does the Term Sometimes Change when I Hit Lookup?

If using the auto-suggest feature, the term is automatically mapped to the best MeSH term for this concept. This may result in a different term being displayed in the search box then the one entered

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About the MeSH browse display

The MeSH display is broken up into four areas.

Definition: Provides information on how NLM indexes this term

Thesaurus Matches: Provides a list of MeSH terms containing one or more of your terms

MeSH Trees: View all the trees that a term appears in. Browse through trees to view broader and more specific concepts

Database Results: Shows the counts for the MeSH term selected in each of the Cochrane databases.

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Viewing Results

After selecting a MeSH term, the results panel will update to show you the number of articles in each of the databases that contain that MeSH term. Click on the “View Results” button and results will be displayed on the bottom of the page. In the left hand column of the results, the radio button will indicate which database results you are looking at. The numbers in parentheses after the database names indicate the number of articles found for your search in that specific database.

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Saving a MeSH Search

Individual MeSH Searches can be saved by selecting a MeSH term and using the “Save Search” button. To save searches, a user must be registered with The Cochrane Library and be logged in to their account.

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Running a Saved MeSH Search

To run a previously saved MeSH search, a user must be registered with The Cochrane Library and be logged in to their account. Go to the the Saved MeSH Searches Section under the MeSH Browser and click on the arrow, ►, to see All Saved MeSH Searches. Select the load button, , to run the search. Note: The Saved MeSH Search section appears only if user has one or more saved MeSH searches

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Setting (and turning off) an Alert for a Saved MeSH Search

For Saved MeSH Searches, users can set an alert so they will receive an email every time new articles indexed with that MeSH term are published in The Cochrane Library. To set an alert, log in to your user account, go to the Saved MeSH Searches Section and click on the arrow, ►, to see All Saved MeSH Searches. Find the search you wish to set the alert for and click the checkbox at the end of the search line. Checking the box turns the alert on, unchecking turns off the alert.

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Using Qualifiers

Use the box to the right of the search box, for adding limits by qualifier. Users can select qualifiers from the pull down menu or can type the two letter abbreviation for the qualifier in the box. If entered along with a MeSH term, that qualifier will be applied to that MeSH term. Qualifiers can also be searched and used on their own.

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Why do qualifiers I pick sometimes disappear?

Not all qualifiers can be applied to all MeSH terms. If qualifiers are selected first, and then the MeSH term is selected, only those qualifiers valid for that MeSH term will be retained. For best results, lookup your MeSH term first and then only valid qualifiers for that term will be presented in the qualifier list.

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Using Thesaurus Matches

The Thesaurus Matches Section provides information on MeSH terms that contain one or more of your search term(s). Use this area to review other MeSH terms that might be of interest. Selecting a term from the list, will lookup that term.

If the term is an exact match for a MeSH heading or one of its synonyms, it will be presented at the top of the list. For searches containing two or more search terms, phrase match section, will return terms where two or more of the words were matched to a MeSH Heading or one of its synonyms. The third section, Any Word Match, will bring back results where any of the terms matched an existing MeSH term or synonym.

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About MeSH Trees

The MeSH trees section identifies all trees that the selected MeSH term appears in. By default, a MeSH term will be exploded and searched in all trees. For experienced MeSH users, options are provided to limit a search to specific trees or to choose to search for a term only without term explosion.

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Browsing MeSH Trees

Users can browse through trees to look for other terms that might be of interest. If a number appears in brackets after the MeSH term this indicates that narrow terms are available. Click on a link to see all narrower terms for a specific MeSH tree. Selecting a different term within the tree will update the search box and change your search results accordingly.

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Exploding Terms

MeSH terms are arranged hierarchically by subject categories with more specific (narrower) terms arranged beneath broader terms. Term Explosion means that a term and all the specific terms that appear below it will be searched. To search for only a specific MeSH term without any of its more specific terms (unexploded), select the “Single MeSH Term” radio button. You must click the “Select” button for these limits to be applied to your search.

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Selecting Specific Trees

To search a term only in specific trees, select the option “Explode in Selected trees” and check the tick box next to the trees you wish to use. You must click the “Select” button for these limits to be applied to your search.

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Using Search Results

The Search results section provides information on the search being run and any limits applied. It also shows the number of articles in each of The Cochrane Library Databases that are indexed using the specific term. From this area, users can choose to view results, add this Mesh Search to Search Manager to build complex searches or save this MeSH search.

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Adding MeSH terms to Search Manager

To add MeSH terms within complex searches you are building in Search Manager use the “Add to Search Manager” button in the Search Results section. Once you have selected the MeSH term and applied all desired limits or qualifiers, this button will allow you to add your MeSH Search to the Search Manager.

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Definition

Nursing Process - The sum total of nursing activities which includes assessment (identifying needs), intervention (ministering to needs), and evaluation (validating the effectiveness of the help given).

Thesaurus matches

Exact Term Match

Phrase Matches

Any Word Match

  • Nursing Process
      Synonyms:
    • Process, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Processes
      • ;
    • Processes, Nursing
      • .
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Medical-Surgical
      • ;
    • Medical Surgical Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Medical Surgical
      • .
  • Radiologic and Imaging Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Radiologic Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Radiologic
      • ;
    • Nursing, Radiologic and Imaging
      • .
  • Standardized Nursing Terminology
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Terminologies, Standardized
      • ;
    • Nursing Terminology, Standardized
      • ;
    • Standardized Nursing Terminologies
      • ;
    • Terminologies, Standardized Nursing
      • ;
    • Terminology, Standardized Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Terminology
      • ;
    • Nursing Terminologies
      • ;
    • Terminologies, Nursing
      • ;
    • Terminology, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Outcomes Classification Terminology
      • ;
    • International Classification for Nursing Practice
      • ;
    • Nursing Interventions Classification
      • ;
    • Classification, Nursing Interventions
      • ;
    • Classifications, Nursing Interventions
      • ;
    • Interventions Classification, Nursing
      • ;
    • Interventions Classifications, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Interventions Classifications
      • .
  • Community Health Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Community Health
      • .
  • Economics, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Economics
      • ;
    • Economic, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Economic
      • .
  • Education, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Educations, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Educations
      • .
  • Education, Nursing, Associate
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Education, Associate
      • ;
    • Associate Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Associate Nursing Educations
      • ;
    • Education, Associate Nursing
      • ;
    • Educations, Associate Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Educations, Associate
      • .
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate
      Synonyms:
    • External Degree Programs, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Baccalaureate
      • ;
    • Baccalaureate Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Baccalaureate Nursing Educations
      • ;
    • Education, Baccalaureate Nursing
      • ;
    • Educations, Baccalaureate Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Educations, Baccalaureate
      • .
  • Education, Nursing, Continuing
      Synonyms:
    • Education, Nursing, Post-Basic
      • ;
    • Education, Nursing, Post-Registration
      • ;
    • Post-Registration Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Post Registration Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Post-Basic
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Post Basic
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Post-Registration
      • ;
    • Education, Post-Registration Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Post Registration
      • ;
    • Post-Basic Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Education, Post-Basic Nursing
      • ;
    • Post Basic Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Continuing Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Education, Continuing Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Continuing
      • .
  • Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Education, Diploma Programs
      • ;
    • Diploma Programs, Nursing
      • ;
    • Diploma Program, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Diploma Program
      • ;
    • Nursing Diploma Programs
      • ;
    • Program, Nursing Diploma
      • ;
    • Programs, Nursing Diploma
      • .
  • Education, Nursing, Graduate
      Synonyms:
    • Postgraduate Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Education, Postgraduate Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Graduate
      • ;
    • Nursing Education, Postgraduate
      • ;
    • Education, Nursing, Postgraduate
      • ;
    • Graduate Nursing Education
      • ;
    • Education, Graduate Nursing
      • .
  • Ethics, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Ethics
      • ;
    • Ethic, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Ethic
      • .
  • Faculty, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Faculty
      • ;
    • Faculties, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Faculties
      • .
  • Geriatric Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Geriatric
      • ;
    • Geriatric Nursings
      • ;
    • Nursings, Geriatric
      • .
  • History of Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Histories
      • ;
    • Nursing History
      • ;
    • Nursing, History
      • ;
    • History Nursing
      • ;
    • History Nursings
      • ;
    • Nursings, History
      • .
  • Home Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Home
      • .
  • Insurance, Nursing Services
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Services Insurance
      • ;
    • Insurances, Nursing Services
      • ;
    • Nursing Services Insurances
      • ;
    • Services Insurance, Nursing
      • ;
    • Services Insurances, Nursing
      • .
  • Legislation, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Legislation
      • ;
    • Legislations, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Legislations
      • .
  • Libraries, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Libraries
      • ;
    • Library, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Library
      • .
  • Licensure, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Licensure
      • ;
    • Nursing Licensures
      • ;
    • Licensures, Nursing
      • .
  • Military Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Military
      • ;
    • Military Nursings
      • ;
    • Nursings, Military
      • ;
    • Nursing, Military and Naval
      • ;
    • Military and Naval Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Assessment
      Synonyms:
    • Assessment, Nursing
      • ;
    • Assessments, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Assessments
      • ;
    • Protocols, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Protocol
      • ;
    • Protocol, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Protocols
      • .
  • Nursing Audit
      Synonyms:
    • Audit, Nursing
      • ;
    • Audits, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Audits
      • .
  • Nursing Care
      Synonyms:
    • Care, Nursing
      • ;
    • Management, Nursing Care
      • ;
    • Nursing Care Management
      • .
  • Nursing Diagnosis
      Synonyms:
    • Diagnosis, Nursing
      • ;
    • Diagnoses, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Diagnoses
      • .
  • Nursing Faculty Practice
      Synonyms:
    • Practice, Nursing Faculty
      • ;
    • Faculty Practices, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Faculty Practices
      • ;
    • Practices, Nursing Faculty
      • ;
    • Faculty Practice, Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Homes
      Synonyms:
    • Homes, Nursing
      • ;
    • Home, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Home
      • .
  • Nursing Records
      Synonyms:
    • Records, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Record
      • ;
    • Record, Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Service, Hospital
      Synonyms:
    • Hospital Nursing Service
      • ;
    • Service, Hospital Nursing
      • ;
    • Hospital Nursing Services
      • ;
    • Nursing Services, Hospital
      • ;
    • Services, Hospital Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Services
      Synonyms:
    • Services, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Service
      • ;
    • Service, Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Staff
      Synonyms:
    • Staffs, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Staffs
      • ;
    • Staff, Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Staffs, Hospital
      • ;
    • Staffs, Hospital Nursing
      • ;
    • Hospital Nursing Staff
      • ;
    • Hospital Nursing Staffs
      • ;
    • Staff, Hospital Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing Theory
      Synonyms:
    • Theory, Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Theories
      • ;
    • Theories, Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing, Practical
      Synonyms:
    • Practical Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursings, Practical
      • ;
    • Practical Nursings
      • .
  • Nursing, Private Duty
      Synonyms:
    • Private Practice Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Private Practice
      • ;
    • Private Duty Nursing
      • .
  • Nursing, Supervisory
      Synonyms:
    • Supervisory Nursing
      • ;
    • Charge Nurses
      • ;
    • Charge Nurse
      • ;
    • Nurse, Charge
      • ;
    • Nurses, Charge
      • ;
    • Nurses, Head
      • ;
    • Head Nurses
      • ;
    • Head Nurse
      • ;
    • Nurse, Head
      • .
  • Nursing, Team
      Synonyms:
    • Team Nursing
      • .
  • Obstetric Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Obstetric
      • ;
    • Nursings, Obstetric
      • ;
    • Obstetric Nursings
      • ;
    • Nursing, Obstetrical
      • ;
    • Nursings, Obstetrical
      • ;
    • Obstetrical Nursings
      • ;
    • Obstetrical Nursing
      • .
  • Occupational Health Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Occupational Health
      • ;
    • Health Nursing, Occupational
      • ;
    • Health Nursings, Occupational
      • ;
    • Nursings, Occupational Health
      • ;
    • Occupational Health Nursings
      • ;
    • Industrial Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Industrial
      • ;
    • Industrial Nursings
      • ;
    • Nursings, Industrial
      • .
  • Office Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Office
      • ;
    • Nursings, Office
      • ;
    • Office Nursings
      • .
  • Oncology Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Oncology
      • ;
    • Oncologic Nursing
      • ;
    • Cancer Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Cancer
      • ;
    • Nursing, Oncologic
      • ;
    • Oncological Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Oncological
      • .
  • Operating Room Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Operating Room
      • .
  • Pediatric Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Pediatric
      • ;
    • Nursings, Pediatric
      • ;
    • Pediatric Nursings
      • .
  • Philosophy, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing Philosophy
      • ;
    • Nursing Philosophies
      • ;
    • Philosophies, Nursing
      • .
  • Primary Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Primary
      • ;
    • Primary Nursing Care
      • ;
    • Care, Primary Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing Care, Primary
      • .
  • Psychiatric Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Mental Health Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Mental Health
      • ;
    • Nursing, Psychiatric
      • ;
    • Psychosocial Nursing
      • ;
    • Nursing, Psychosocial
      • .
  • Public Health Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, Public Health
      • .
  • School Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nursing, School
      • ;
    • Nursings, School
      • ;
    • School Nursings
      • .
  • Schools, Nursing
      Synonyms:
    • Nurse Training Schools
      • ;
    • Schools, Nurse Training
      • ;
    • Nurse Training School
      • ;
    • School, Nurse Training
      • ;
    • Training School, Nurse
      • ;
    • Training Schools, Nurse
      • ;
    • Nursing Schools
      • ;
    • Nursing School
      • ;
    • School, Nursing
      • .

Search results

There are 1928 results for your search on

  • MeSH descriptor: [Nursing Process]
  • explode all trees
  • Cochrane Reviews1
  • Other Reviews113
  • Trials1754
  • Methods Studies0
  • Technology Assessments7
  • Economic Evaluations53
  • Cochrane Groups0