Using Boolean Operators

Boolean Operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT or AND NOT) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results.

A search with MeSH headings is put together using the Boolean operators AND, NOT and OR to identify articles that are about both topics (AND), one but excluding the other (NOT) or either one OR the other. This is how it works.

A search with MeSH headings is put together using the Boolean operators AND, NOT and OR to identify articles that are about both topics (AND), one but excluding the other (NOT) or either one OR the other. This is how it works.

Note that if we use the free text term ‘transition’ rather than the MeSH heading, we get 157 articles but many are not relevant (e.g. one is entitled ‘Management of the multiple phases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia’).

In practice, the MeSH headings can be combined all at once and the search is entered as a single phrase:

hemophilia AND transition to adult care