Table 7Syntax Guide

Syntax Description
/ At the end of a phrase, searches the phrase as a subject heading
MeSH Medical Subject Heading
.fs Floating subheading
exp Explode a subject heading
* Before a word, indicates that the marked subject heading is a primary topic; or, after a word, a truncation symbol (wildcard) to retrieve plurals or varying endings
# Truncation symbol for 1 character
? Truncation symbol for 1 or no characters only
adj# Requires terms to be adjacent to each other within # number of words (in any order)
.ti Title
.ot Original title
.ab Abstract
.hw Heading word; usually includes subject headings and controlled vocabulary
.kf Keyword heading word
.dq Candidate term word (Embase)
.pt Publication type
.mp Mapped term
.rn Registry number
.nm Name of substance word (MEDLINE)
.yr Publication year
.jw Journal title word (MEDLINE)
.jx Journal title word (Embase)
freq=# Requires terms to occur # number of times in the specified fields
medall Ovid database code: MEDLINE All, 1946 to present, updated daily
oemezd Ovid database code; Embase, 1974 to present, updated daily
psyh Ovid database code; APA PsycInfo, 1806 to present, updated daily

From: Peer Support Programs for Youth Mental Health

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Peer Support Programs for Youth Mental Health: Health Technology Assessment [Internet].
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