Difference between OVID and PubMed


These two are mostly used bibliographic databases. There are a few key differences between OVID and PubMed. For one, OVID offers a much more intuitive interface than PubMed. This is because OVID is designed specifically for clinical researchers, while PubMed is designed for general biomedical researchers.

Another key difference is that OVID offers better search filters than PubMed. This is because OVID includes filters for things like publication type, date range, and subject area. This means that you can really narrow down your search results to find exactly what you're looking for.

Finally, OVID also offers a "My Bibliography" feature, which allows you to keep track of all the articles you've read and cited. This can be extremely helpful when writing papers or preparing grant applications.

Read this article to find out more about OVID and PubMed and how they are different from each other.

What is OVID?

OVID is a database that contains MEDLINE, the bibliographic database of biomedical and life sciences journal articles from the National Library of Medicine. OVID also offers access to other resources, such as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Clinical Trials Registry.

Ovid has a much more intuitive and user-friendly interface than PubMed. This is because Ovid was designed with the needs of researchers in mind, while PubMed was designed for use by medical professionals. Ovid provides access to a wide variety of academic journals. If you're looking for information on a specific topic, you'll likely find more relevant results in Ovid than in PubMed. Finally, consider the price of each database. Ovid is a subscription-based service

Ovid Medline Advantages

There are a number of reasons why Ovid Medline is the preferred database for many researchers. One key advantage is that Ovid Medline provides access to a wide range of medical journals not available on other databases. This means that users can find more targeted and relevant information for their research.

Another advantage of Ovid Medline is the extensive search options available. Users can search by keyword, author, journal, MeSH term, and more. This makes it easy to find the most relevant articles for any given research topic.

Finally, Ovid Medline offers regular updates and enhancements to ensure that users have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips. This dedication to customer service is one of the reasons why Ovid Medline is the preferred database for many researchers.

Ovid Medline Disadvantages

There are a few disadvantages to using Ovid Medline instead of PubMed.

  • First, Ovid Medline is a subscription-based service, so you need to have a subscription in order to use it.

  • Second, Ovid Medline does not include all of the same journals that PubMed does.

  • Third, the interface for Ovid Medline is not as user-friendly as the interface for PubMed.

What is PubMed?

PubMed is a free search engine that allows access to the MEDLINE database of abstracts from biomedical journals. Ovid is a commercial product that offers a similar service. The main difference between the two is that PubMed is free to use, while Ovid requires a subscription. Additionally, PubMed includes some content that Ovid does not, such as books and conference proceedings.

PubMed specializes in medical journals. Finally, consider the price of each database. The PubMed is free to use. If cost is a factor in your decision, then PubMed may be the better option for you.

PubMed Advantages

PubMed offers a number of advantages over Ovid. PubMed typically returns more results than Ovid for the same search terms, making it a more comprehensive resource. PubMed contains a powerful search tools which allows you to narrow down your search results and make you to find the exactly what you are looking for.

On the daily basis the PubMed is updated which ensures you to have access to all the latest research. It is an open source, so it can be accessed by anyone.

PubMed Disadvantages

There are a few disadvantages to using PubMed compared to other databases. First, because it is maintained by the US National Library of Medicine, the majority of articles in PubMed are in the field of medicine. This can be limiting for researchers in other fields.

Second, PubMed does not include all journal articles. While it includes many major journals, there are some important journals that are not included. This means that researchers may miss some relevant articles when searching PubMed.

Finally, the interface for PubMed can be challenging to use for inexperienced users. The search options are not as straightforward as some other databases, and the results can be difficult to sort and filter.

Difference between OVID and PubMed

The following table highlights the major differences between OVID and PubMed −

Characteristics

OVID

PubMed

Subscription

It requires a subscription

It doesn’t require subscription and it is freely available

Complexity

It is more complex due to it contain many different search boxes to search in different ways

It is very simple to use because it contains the less search boxes

Boolean Search

Yes, it supports

No it doesn’t supports the Boolean search, but it includes Boolean Operators (Capital Letters)

Truncation

It uses the $ or * as a wildcard

It uses the * as a wildcard

Access of Mobile

It requires the internet access or mobile data, which automatically fits to your screen size.

It doesn’t provide the mobile friendly version.

Updates

It is updated daily or weekly

It is updated every day

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ovid and PubMed are both important resources for the medical community. While they may have different focuses and capabilities, both can be used to find relevant information related to medical research. Ultimately, it is up to each researcher to determine which of these databases better suits their needs in order to maximize their search results.

Updated on: 17-Feb-2023

332 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements