Embase is a comprehensive biomedical research database that covers literature from 1947 to present. It offers over 8,400 journals from around the globe, including six million records and 2,700 journals that are not covered by MEDLINE (e.g., conference abstracts, European journal titles). Embase offers subject headings called Emtree terms, which are more granular than PubMed's subject headings, and offers better indexing coverage of devices and drugs.
Most useful for:
Embase Tutorials provided by Elsevier
Basic Searching Instructions
Search using Emtree Terms and Keywords
Click the "advanced" search just above the search box options. Ensure that the four boxes underneath the search bar are checked; this will allow Embase to help map each of your terms to the best Emtree term.
The suggested Emtree term will appear as you type. Select the mapped term(s) that best match your concept. Click 'search' to be taken to the results page.
If needed, use the search bar above the results to add additional keywords to your search. Be sure to use single quotation marks if you need to search specific phrases. Combine similar terms with OR within the search bar.
Combining your Search terms
OR will find references with any of the search terms. Use OR to broaden your search.
AND will find references with all the search terms. Use AND to narrow your search.
Search History (Combining search results)
Your search history will appear above the search results. To combine two or more search lines of a similar concept, click the radio buttons next to the search line(s) and then "Combine using Or".
To combine two or more separate concepts, click the radio buttons next to the search line(s) and then "Combine using And"
Limiting/Refining your Combined Search Results
The results filters are on the left side of the page. Popular filters include publication year, study types, and publication types.
Saving your Searches
1. With an account, you can save and retrieve a search strategy, set up an e-mail alert to receive new references on your topic, and more.
2. Click "sign in" in the upper right corner. You can choose to create an account or login to Elsevier via Duke (Sign in via your institution).
3. To save your Search History, choose one or more searches via the radio buttons, then click Save (just above the search history).
4. To retrieve saved searches, click "My tools" at the top right of the page.
5. Other functions, like copying a search to Clipboard or creating an Email Alert are also available through My Tools and the buttons above the search history. You can also export the search details to a .csv or text file.
If you are unable to find full-text articles using the links below, you will need to order it via InterLibrary Loan (Step #3).
Before making a request for full-text articles through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), please try steps #1 and #2 to search for the full-text. This allows our service to focus on articles that are not available for free nor via our Duke subscriptions. Our Interlibrary Loan service is no charge to Duke borrowers for all article requests. If there are copyright or other fees associated with your article request, we will contact you.
If you can't find the citation in a database or you don't see a GetIt@Duke button, you can place a request manually through our interlibrary loan service. Follow the steps below.
Questions about Interlibrary Loan? All interlibrary loan questions should go to Louis Wiethe, Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan Manager, 919.660.1179 or louis.wiethe@duke.edu