Embase: Managing your searches

As we have seen, there are many different ways to do a search in Embase.  If you are looking for the maximum possible number of results, for example for a systematic review, we advise that you use all of the different search types and then combine your search results into one answer set.  For example:

• In Search #1 I have used Quick search to search for pharmacist AND prescrib*
• In Searches #2 and #3 I have used Emtree to find the terms pharmacist and prescription, and combined them in search #4
• In search #5 I have used PICO and included synonyms for my terms

Then I can combine searches #1, #4 and #5 with OR to put all of my results into one answer set, which has no duplicate answers. 

I find over 29,000 results, which is more than in any of my individual searches.

To save your search history and results you first need to register for an Embase username and password and Login to the database.

Select individual searches or check the box next to History to select them all, and click Save.

This search strategy will be saved on the Embase server under your login.

To retrieve your saved search, go to My Tools then Saved Searches. To re-run a search you need to select it.

If you are working on a long-term project and need to keep up-to-date with the literature, you don't have to keep repeating your search on Embase.  Once you are happy with your search strategy, you can set up a search alert: Embase will send you an email when any new records on your topic are added to the database.  Simply mouse over the search in your history to find an email alert button. Alternatively, go to your saved searches and select the search that you would like to receive updates for.