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Database Search Tips

This guide will help get you started in some of our most popular databases! Happy searching! Let us know if we can help.

About

Lexicomp provides clinicians with robust clinical drug information. The search interface allows you to look up IV compatibility, interactions, drug identifier, patient education, calculators, MSDS, toxicology, and more. Lexicomp enables you to take a patient-specific approach when making each drug decision by going beyond the standard drug information to include critical, nuanced dosing considerations for renal impairment, pharmacogenomics, obesity, pregnancy, and more.

Most useful for:

  • Clinical questions regarding drugs, disease management, antibiotics and related drugs, and vaccines
  • Interactions
  • Drug identification
  • Calculators

Mobile App Available

There is an associated mobile app available through Lexicomp. If you are on a laptop or computer, you must first click the Lexicomp link above. Once you are in Duke's version of Lexicomp, follow these steps:

  • Click the "Mobile Access Codes" box on the homepage.
  • Select your platform and customer status.
  • Follow instructions displayed to set up account
    • Their instructions are very detailed, follow them closely and be sure to use your Duke email
      address when you register.
    • Certain special characters (#) will not be accepted in passwords
    • The authorization code is in bright red text at the top of the instructions page
    • NOTE: The code changes every year at the end of August. You will need to repeat this
      process.
  • On your mobile device, download the app from the App Store/Play.
  • Activate the app with your personal log in and download the databases of your choice. You can download as many of the other databases as you wish. Note: it can take a little while to download the individual databases! Make sure you have a good Wi-Fi signal
  • NOTE: These databases are updated daily.

Getting Started

Lexicomp Tutorials provided by Wolters Kluwer

Steps to Find Full-Text Articles

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.

  1. Find the article citation in a database: If you aren't already in a database, go back to PubMed or other database such as CINAHL, Embase, or Web of Science to look up the article. Why? Because our Get it @ Duke button will fill out the ILL form for you with all the article information – this saves you time and ensures greater citation accuracy.
  2. Click the GetIt@Duke button: Once you locate the article in a citation database, click the Get It @ Duke link.
  3. Select second button to request as Med Center User: From the page that says “We don't have this online — see below for other ways to get it” click the green button that says “Request – Med Center users.”
  4. Log on with your DHE / NetID username and password: This will take you to the ILL form. The article information will be filled into the form automatically. Scroll to the bottom, verify accuracy, and click submit.

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

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medical-librarian@duke.edu