Most databases allow you to search specific fields. You can find options to search specific fields in search drop-down menus (set to Title, Abstract, or Journal Title for example) or you can use commands. For example, to search the Title and Abstract fields with a command in PubMed, enter cytology[tiab] in the main search box. All items that have cytology in the Title and/or Abstract field will be retrieved.
Searching specific fields and using commands may help you get to the article you want faster. In PubMed, using fields and commands may help you to balance your search. A comprehensive search involves considering how you should search for an individual concept.
| Command | Field | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [au] | Author | Cipriani P[au] |
| [ta] | Journal | hematology[ta] |
| [ti] | Publication Title | stem cell[ti] AND therapies[ti] AND systemic sclerosis[ti] |
| [ti:~#] | Title with Proximity | "hip pain"[ti:~2] |
| [tiab] | Title and Abstract | systemic sclerosis[tiab] AND stem cells[tiab] |
| [tiab:~#] | Title and Abstract with Proximity | "hip pain"[tiab:~2] |
| [ot] | Other Term (Keywords) | stem cell transplantation[ot] AND systemic sclerosis[ot] |
| [mh] | MeSH Term (Subject Heading) | scleroderma, systemic[mh] |
| [iud] | PMID | 25376920[uid] |