Skip to main content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

Search health databases

Learn how to use the major health databases to find the best available evidence for your research

Embase is a huge database of medical and life science citations which should be used in conjunction with PubMed for comprehensive searching. It includes more drug article citations, and more European article citations than PubMed.

Embase is made up of content merged from three databases:

  • Embase, the Excerpta Medica database from Elsevier – 1974 to present
  • Embase Classic (Excerpta Medica Abstract Journals backfile) – 1947-1973
  • Medline, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, including current Medline (1966 onward) plus OldMedline (back to 1950)

Use the interactive activity below for an introduction to searching Embase.

Search Embase effectively:

More Embase videos:
Trying to make sense of logic grids, database searching and subject headings?
Spend a bit of time watching these short videos.. trust me, the time will be well spent!