Guides: Medical Education Research: Databases & Search Terms

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BEME Guide No 3: Systematic searching for evidence in medical education--Part 1: Sources of information
Alex Haig & Marshall Dozier (2003) BEME Guide No 3: Systematic searching for evidence in medical education--Part 1: Sources of information, Medical Teacher, 25:4, 352-363, DOI: 10.1080/0142159031000136815
BEME Guide No. 3: Systematic searching for evidence in medical education--Part 2: Constructing searches
Alex Haig & Marshall Dozier (2003) BEME Guide No. 3: Systematic searching for evidence in medical education--Part 2: Constructing searches, Medical Teacher, 25:5, 463-484, DOI: 10.1080/01421590310001608667
BEME Guide No. 13: Conducting a best evidence systematic review. Part 1: From idea to data coding.
Marilyn Hammick, Timothy Dornan & Yvonne Steinert (2010) Conducting a best evidence systematic review. Part 1: From idea to data coding. BEME Guide No. 13, Medical Teacher, 32:1, 3-15, DOI: 10.3109/01421590903414245

Core Databases for Medical Education Research

PubMed (MEDLINE) This link opens in a new window
PubMed is comprised of millions of citations for the biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Also provides access to other National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) services for biomedical and genomic information. Added functionality available with personal account. Good for foreground questions.
Large Collection.
Updated daily.
1996-Present
Ovid MEDLINE This link opens in a new window
Citations and abstracts to the biomedical literature, including the allied health fields and the biological and physical sciences, humanities, and information science as they relate to medicine and health care. Added functionality available with personal account. Good for foreground questions.
Large Collection.
1946-Present.
Updated Daily.
ERIC via Ovid This link opens in a new window
Search for educational articles, books, conference proceedings and other content. Added functionality available with personal account.
Large Collection.
1965 - Present.
Updated monthly
Embase This link opens in a new window
Biomedical research and pharmacology citations and abstracts. Added functionality available with personal account.
Large collection.
1947-Present.
Updated daily
CINAHL This link opens in a new window
Nursing and allied health journal citations and full-text articles. Added functionality available with personal account. Good for background and foreground questions.
Large Collection.
1981- present.
Updated yearly.
APA PsycInfo This link opens in a new window
International psychiatry and mental health articles, reports, books and dissertations. Added functionality available with personal account.
Large Collection.
1806-Present.
Updated Weekly
HaPI This link opens in a new window
Provides access to information on measurement instruments such as questionnaires, interviews, checklists, etc. in the health fields, psychosocial sciences and organizational behavior. Added functionality with personal account.
Large Collection.
1985-Present.
Updated quarterly
MedEdPORTAL This link opens in a new window
Open Access journal that allows for the dissemination of educational tools and resources in areas of medicine and dentistry.
Small collection.
2005-Present.
Updated Frequently.
MERLOT This link opens in a new window
Access curated, peer-reviewed learning materials, assignments and presentations in the health and life sciences and other disciplines. Members may also create content on the site. Added functionality available with personal account.
Large Collection.
2000-Present.
Updated Monthly

Sample Search Terms for Medical Education

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for Medical Education Research. This list does not incorporate the MeSH hierarchy associated with each term.

General
- Education, Medical
- Teaching
- Learning
- Curriculum
- [MeSH term]/Education (subheading)
Teaching and Learning Programs and Methods
- Teaching/Methods (MeSH/Subheading)
- Competency-Based Education
- Education, Distance
- Simulation Training
- High Fidelity Simulation Training
- Patient Simulation
- Problem-Based Learning
Assessment
Groups and Populations

Browse all ERIC descriptors at the Education Resources Information Center.

General
- Medical Education
- Learning
- Curriculum
Teaching and Learning Programs and Methods
- Educational Methods
- Classroom Techniques
- Educational Strategies
- Teaching Methods
- Electronic Learning
- Distance Education
Assessment
- Evaluation
- Course Evaluation
- Curriculum Evaluation
- Curriculum Based Assessment
- Formative Evaluation
- Summative Evaluation
- Evaluation Methods
- Measurement
Groups and Populations
- Medical Schools
- Medical Students
- Medical School Faculty
- Graduate Medical Education
- Clinical Teaching
- Professional Continuing Education

Emtree terms for Medical Education Research

General
- Medical Education
- Medical School
- Curriculum
- Learning
- Teaching
Teaching and Learning Programs and Methods

Simulation
Patient Simulation
Education Program
Educational Model

Assessment

Academic Success
Intellectual Assessment
Outcome Assessment

Groups and Populations

Medical Student
Teaching Round
Resident
Residency Education
Clinical Education

General
- Education, Medical
- Teaching
- Learning
- Curriculum
- [Subject Term]/Education/ED (subheading)
Teaching and Learning Programs and Methods
- Teaching Methods
- Education, Competency-Based
- Education, Non-Traditional (for distance education)
- Simulations
- Patient Simulation
- Learning Methods
- Problem-Based Learning
- Self Directed Learning
Assessment
- Educational Measurement
- Outcome Assessment
- Academic Achievement
Groups and Populations
- Students, Medical
- Interns and Residents
- Internship and Residency
- Education, Medical, Continuing
- Schools, Medical

The Graduate Health & Life Sciences Research Library at Georgetown University Medical Center

Medical Education Research

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Core Databases for Medical Education Research

Sample Search Terms for Medical Education