What is your path to successful searches in PubMed?

The other day Valentin and I were discussing how scientists confront the time-consuming task of looking for information in the scientific literature. From my experience as a scientist and from conversations with friends and colleagues, we found out that many of them end up in a frustrating situation when searching and that their path to successful searches in Pubmed can be summarized in one of the 4 following options:

1. Direct

We manage to find results from PubMed although in some cases we have to face the use of MeSH terms. Hashtag #nsdirect

2. Ask for help

After some time facing Pubmed search engine without any success, we decide to ask for help from a colleague or a librarian. Some of our friends told us that they don’t they take this path without trying to do it themselves. Hashtag #nsafh

3. Alternatives

After performing some searches in PubMed and not succeeding in our commitment we just look for alternative search engines like Google, 3rd party pubmed tools or obviously novoseek (we asked our friends they what do you expect them to use besides PubMed. Hashtag #nsalt

4. Beer. Why not?

I mean, after a hard working day, what is better than a beer and face the challenge some other day. Hashtag #nsbeer

Take a look at the image below, its so funny and so real

Now we need you to act! What is your path? Tweet this post to your followers adding the #hashtag that better describes you.

1. Direct, this is my path to successful searches in Pubmed
2. Ask for help, this is my path to successful searches in Pubmed
3. Alternatives, this is my path to successful searches in Pubmed
4. Beer, why not?, this is my path to successful searches in Pubmed

Have a great weekend.

We recommend you to read:

• We didn’t do it
• Take your searches to the next level with my novoseek
• 7 on average: a story about synonyms in biomedical concepts
• Your handy my novoseek guide v1.0
• Interview with Christian Blaschke, scientific director of novoseek