TimelyScholarFree Tools › PubMed Search Strategy Builder
Build a structured PubMed search concept by concept: MeSH headings and free-text synonyms combined with OR, concepts combined with AND, plus the Cochrane RCT filter, live result counts and translations for other databases.
FreeNo account neededSearch terms go to NLM for counts
("Pressure Ulcer"[Mesh] OR "pressure ulcer*"[tiab] OR "pressure injur*"[tiab] OR "pressure sore*"[tiab] OR bedsore*[tiab] OR decubitus[tiab]) AND ("Occlusive Dressings"[Mesh] OR "Silicones"[Mesh] OR "silicone dressing*"[tiab] OR "foam dressing*"[tiab] OR "prophylactic dressing*"[tiab])(exp Pressure Ulcer/ or pressure ulcer*.ti,ab. or pressure injur*.ti,ab. or pressure sore*.ti,ab. or bedsore*.ti,ab. or decubitus.ti,ab.) and (exp Occlusive Dressings/ or exp Silicones/ or silicone dressing*.ti,ab. or foam dressing*.ti,ab. or prophylactic dressing*.ti,ab.)
Usually population and intervention (or exposure).
Find headings with the built-in MeSH lookup; use * to truncate.
Count results per concept, open the search in PubMed, then translate it.
Sensitive searches combine controlled vocabulary (MeSH) with free-text words for each concept. Terms within a concept are combined with OR, and the concepts are combined with AND.
Outcomes and comparators are usually left out of the search, unless they are consistently described in abstracts, to avoid missing relevant studies.
The optional RCT filters are the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategies (2008 revision) in PubMed format. Result counts and MeSH suggestions come live from the National Library of Medicine.
Usually yes: exploding includes the narrower headings beneath a term. Turn it off only when narrower headings are clearly irrelevant.
New records are not yet indexed with MeSH, and indexing can be inconsistent, so free-text synonyms keep the search sensitive.
The Cochrane Handbook advises against language restrictions in the search. If a limit is justified, apply it as an eligibility criterion at screening.