Off the SHELF

Simon Paquette, Medical Student, Class of 2026

"As a frequent user of the Health Sciences Library, I have always appreciated the conducive environment it offers for my studies. From providing a cart with essential study materials to organizing stress-relief activities, the library consistently caters to student needs. For instance, during times when I forget an item, such as a device charger, the library staff help me with the same care and attentiveness one would offer to a friend. Their readiness to assist, whether by offering guidance on resources or contacts, reflects the library's efficient operations. This supportive environment not only eases my study sessions but also significantly contributes to my overall academic experience at NOSM U."

June is National Indigenous History month. The library provides a number of resources on Indigenous health. Check out our Indigenous Healthcare Education and Practice guide and Indigenous Health Resources guide.

Searching a database like PubMed or MEDLINE can be a frustrating and time-consuming endeavour if you're not familiar with them. Here are a few librarian-tested tips to empower your searching:

Formulate your question

Brainstorm search terms

Once you’ve identified your concepts, take time to brainstorm the main search terms. Consider related concepts, alternate spellings, and non-medical terms.

Use subject headings

Subject headings are standardized words or phrases used to index database records. They describe the content of articles, commentaries, conference proceedings, and other resources in a database, and facilitate the retrieval of information by topic or concept. Unlike text words which may have different meanings or spellings, subject headings are clearly defined to add context and account for variations in spelling or terminology. There is not a list of universal subject headings, although PubMed and MEDLINE use the same medical subject headings (MeSH). To find subject headings in a database look for options like “thesaurus” or “headings”.

Search each term/concept individually

To keep your search simple, try searching each term or concept individually. Once you’ve searched all your terms, use your search history to combine searches with AND/OR. By searching each term individually, you can easily add or remove terms as needed.

Use the features of the database

Databases usually provide limits or filters that allow you to refine your search without adding additional search terms. Commonly used filters/limits include date range, language, and publication type.

See our 2SLGBTQ+ guide for resources on primary care and more.

Be sure to check our Alumni Services guide to see how we can continue to support you.

Anawati, A., Ramsoondar, N., & Cameron, E. (2024). Environmental accountability: why it matters in social accountability strategies: Rapid evidence narrative from the SAFE for Health Institutions project team. Canadian Family Physician, 70(4), 228-232.

de Laat, S., Musoni, E. R., Bezanson, K., Yantzi, R., Wahoush, O., Nouvet, E., Hunt, M., Amir, T., Bernard, C., Ntizimira, C., & Schwartz, L. (2024). They do their utmost: Promise and limits of palliative care in two refugee camps in Rwanda, a qualitative study. Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 40(2), 153-181.

Ferreira, N., McKenna, O., Lamb, I.R., Campbell, A., DeMiglio, L., & Orrantia, E. (2024). Approaches to locum physician recruitment and retention: A systematic review. Human Resources for Health, 22.

Glass, L., Davidson, M., Friedrich, E., Afford, R., MacVicar, S., Gentles, Q., Miles, P., Kirkpatrick, R., Smithson, L., Walsh, M., Hiscock, S., Wong, E., & Champion, C. (2024). Defining the Canadian rural general surgeon. Canadian Journal of Surgery, 67(2), e129-e141.

Kenny, J. S., Eibl, J. K., Horner, C., Arcozzi, D., Bonomi, F., Fanelli, V., Visioli, A., Goffi, A., & Piva, S. (2024). Hemodynamic insights from simultaneous common carotid and internal jugular doppler ultrasonography in a patient with hypoxemia and multiple organ dysfunction. Chest, 165(4), e107-e112.

Ventres, W. B., Stone, L.A., South-Paul, J. E., Campbell, K. M., Petty, A. R., Ekanadham, H., Stange, K. C., Etz, R. S., Miller, W. L., Ferrer, R. L., Kong, M., Bodenheimer, T., Strasser, R., Reece, S. C. M., Freeman, J., & Westfall, J. M. (2024). Storylines of family medicine XII: family medicine and the healthcare system. Family Medicine and Community Health, 12(Suppl. 3), E002829.

Learners and Faculty: Please submit your publications here.

To access e-resources off-campus, users will be prompted to enter their NOSM University username and password. Off-campus access is only available to users who are currently affiliated with NOSM U. This includes faculty, learners and staff.

Select the resource you wish to access from our website. You will be directed to a login page where you will enter your NOSM University username and password. These are the same credentials used to access SharePoint and MyCurriculum.

For more information and troubleshooting tips, check out our Accessing Library Online Resources guide or email us: askthelibrary@nosm.ca

• Alanna Campbell, Acting Director, Health Sciences Library & Public Services Librarian
• Carlee Crowe, Library Assistant, Public Services
• Jennifer Dumond, Education Services Librarian
• Katy Gauthier, Library Assistant, Access Services
• Katie Moise, Library Assistant, Public Services
• Simon Paquette, NOSM U Medical Student, Class of 2026
• Jasmine TenHave, Library Assistant, Research and Scholarly Communications

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Text: 705-702-4554

Call: (807-766-7375) (705-662-7282)

Email: askthelibrary@nosm.ca