Frequent PubMed searchers may have noticed the new blue banner at the top of the legacy main search page announcing a new version of the biomedical database, and given the new version a test drive. You may have come across the new design by accident, arriving at a strange interface while searching for the latest studies about, say, cannabis and epilepsy. Perhaps this post is your introduction to the news that PubMed has a new look and feel. However you came across this info, don’t panic! We’re here with tips and advice to help you adjust.
Your Search Details can give you a better idea of how PubMed understood the terms you searched. This feature has moved to the Advanced Search page. To access the full Search Details, navigate to the History and Search Details table and select the expand arrow / corresponding to a specific search number.
Using the Clipboard can help you manage, access and share articles. This feature has changed. To add an item to the Clipboard, use the ⋅⋅⋅ button to access the Send To menu, then select Clipboard.
To see all items in your Clipboard, navigate to the options below the main search box at the top of the page.
From the Clipboard page, you’ll be able to see all of your selected items in one place. Use the Save function to export results in specific formats and Email to send the items to yourself or your colleagues. Use to change the display between Summary and Abstract. We recommend using Abstract view so you can screen the complete details and clearly see options for full-text access.
A useful improvement is the addition of a Cite tool for each PubMed reference. It allows you to copy a complete citation for a specific item and paste it into a draft. Use the Format drop-down menu to change the citation style—options include AMA, APA, MLA and NLM. Use Download RIS to download a file you can then upload to a citation management tool (e.g. Mendeley or Zotero) or evidence synthesis software (e.g. Covidence or Rayyan).
Another useful improvement PubMed has introduced is the Share articles tool. Sharing accurate article information over social media platforms can help you improve the impact of your own publication(s) and show support for other authors whose work has affected your research and/or practice.
Using a permalink for an individual PubMed reference can ensure that accurate article information is shared and help others access full-text in a way that respects current copyright laws. We recommend using PubMed permalinks when sharing articles for teaching, journal clubs or linking supplementary resources in eLearning modules or websites because free, open and affiliated organization access points will be clearly displayed.
Not every feature related to PubMed has been updated. You’ll notice that the My NCBI dashboard and the Clinical Queries search page, for example, appear in the legacy interface but search results linking from these tools have the updated look. If you experience any issues accessing results or notice any discrepancies in your results while using the new PubMed to search, please submit your feedback to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) here.
While the PubMed interface update may feel like a dramatic change, general searching mechanics and best practices remain the same. You will still get the most out of PubMed by identifying the important concepts of your search question, searching each concept one at a time, and applying AND OR NOT (Boolean operators), field searching and truncation (*) thoughtfully. You’ll find searching guidance relevant to a variety of databases in our Searching subject guide, including our updated Anatomy of a PubMed Reference tip sheet.
Book a consultation with a library team member to connect about your specific questions when it comes to PubMed’s new look and feel, and searching best practices. Don’t forget to check out our current online learning opportunities, where you can learn alongside your colleagues.
Librarian Educator, Education & Outreach
Dickson Building, Central Zone
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