After you have run your search on MEDLINE, you need to run it on your other databases. Your new search should be the same as your MEDLINE search, only changing as much as necessary to get it to work in the new database.
You cannot simply re-run your MEDLINE search across Embase and Emcare. You need to search Embase for the appropriate Emtree theaurus headings. These are not necessarily the same as the MEDLINE subject headings.
This page will show you how to remap your master MEDLINE search to other Ovid databases (Embase, Emcare, and PsycINFO), The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science.
Please note: database interfaces change frequently, and some of the resources on this page no longer match the current interfaces. The Library is currently reviewing all resources on this page. |
The following PDF guides show how to translate your search to a range of databases. Correct at the time of production but subject to interface changes! |
Different databases use different search syntax, operators, and default search fields. When you are remapping your master search to your chosen databases, it is important to consider whether you will need to adapt any aspects of your search strategy such as phrase searches, truncation, wildcards, and adjacency.
The PDF below shows how to translate these elements across a number of key databases:
The steps below represent our recommended method of translating a search to another database on the Ovid platform, to save time and reduce errors.
The session recording below shows the process in action, demonstrating translation from MEDLINE to Embase and finally to Scopus.
Select the headings below to learn how to remap your MEDLINE search to other Ovid databases. The process is the same whether you are remapping to Embase, Emcare, or PsycINFO.
Select the headings below to learn how to remap your search in Ovid.
Note: Emcare and Embase share the same subject headings, so if you have run your search on Embase, you can rerun it on Emcare without any changes.
'If a tool was used to automatically translate search strings for one database to another, specify the tool used.' PRISMA 2020 Explanation and Elaboration, p. 7
[Note from UniSA librarians: while PRISMA acknowledges use of automation tools for search translation, these can be complex to learn and the results of varying quality. If you frequently undertake systematic searching, you may wish to explore these].
Other standards
Many databases use a thesaurus. It's important to note which is used by the databases you search.
Database | Thesaurus |
Cochrane Library databases | Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) (select records only) |
MEDLINE | Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) |
Emcare, Embase | Emtree |
PsycInfo | Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms |
SPORTDiscus | Sports Thesaurus |
CINAHL | CINAHL Subject Headings |
ERIC | ERIC Thesaurus |
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Web of Science databases, Scopus | Inconsistently applied subject headings from various thesauri may be present. Search using keywords |