Subject Coverage: Pharmaceuticals and the pharmaceutical industry; pharmacy practice; adverse drug reactions, drug toxicity and interactions, investigational drugs; drug evaluations; biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutics; drug stability; pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry; preliminary drug analysis; drug metabolism and body distribution; microbiology; pharmacognosy; environmental toxicity; legislation and regulations; history; sociology, economics, and ethics of drugs; pharmaceutical education; cosmetics; and related health topics.

Types of Material: Journal articles, including state pharmacy journals, and abstracts of presentations from the annual meetings of the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Printed Tool(s): International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA)

Years Covered: 1970 to date

Frequency of Updates: Monthly

Database Producer: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Vendor: OVID Technologies Inc.

Computer Platform: WWW

List of Fields: AB Abstract AD Address

AN Accession Number AU Author

CI Combination Indicator CO Coden

CP Country of Publication DE Descriptors

DR Drug Names HU Human Indicator

IS ISSN LA Language

LS Language of Summary (Abstract) PC Pharmacologic/Therapeutic Classification

PT Publication Type PY Publication Year

RF References RN CAS Registry Number

SC Subject Category SO Source

TI Title UD Update Code

CITN Citation (AN, AU, TI, SO, PY)

The screen:

The screen is divided into two frames. The top frame normally contains the search boxes or search history. The bottom frame, depending on the screen function, contains either search tips or search results.

To search:

Basic Search:

The basic search is the default search mode. Type the search terms or phrase in the box. There are two buttons under the search box. Clicking on the [Search] button runs the search. A search can be limited to the subject, title, and author field by using the drop down menu next to “Find Term:” in the box in the upper right hand corner of the top frame. The default is to search for a term anywhere. A list of alternative subject headings or descriptors results from clicking on the [Suggest] button. A specific term can be selected by clicking on it. Either single or multiple terms may be selected from the list by clicking on the box before the term and then clicking on the [Search Marked] button in the upper right hand corner of the frame.

Advanced Search:

Select the [Advanced Search] tab at the top of the screen. The advanced search allows the user to combine multiple terms in multiple statements using in a wider variety of fields. There are 3 separate search statements, which can be combined by selecting a Boolean connector (and, or, not). Terms can be limited to a specific field by selecting it from the drop down menu. The default is to search terms anywhere. Limits can be applied by clicking on the [CHANGE] button in the box in the right top corner of the screen.

Truncation symbol: * This symbol after a word root will retrieve all words starting with that root (e.g., toxic* will get toxic, toxicology, or toxicity.)

Using Indexes:

Click on the [Index] tab to use the preferred index terms found in the articles. Select the index to be searched from the drop down menu directly above the search box. The indexes are: General Index, Accession Number, Coden, Combination Indicator, Country of Publication, Human Indicator, ISSN, Language, Language of Summary, Publication Year, References, Subject Code, and Update Code. Click on [Database Guide] in the toolbar at the top of the screen to get more information about a specific index. The General Index is used to search for terms in any field. A browsable list of terms appears when an index is selected by clicking on it in the drop down menu. To search for a specific term, type it in the search box and click on [Go to Term]. This brings up a list that includes the term and surrounding terms. To search multiple terms click on the boxes to the left of each desired term then click on [Search Marked] in the upper right corner of the frame. The terms are automatically combined using “OR”. Clicking on a single term will search it. The lists also include the number of hits or results for each term.

Using Search History:

Clicking on this tab brings up previous search statements allowing the user to combine, revise or delete any of these statements. The user can display the results from previous search sets via this screen by clicking on the icon in the right hand column. Click on the box to left of a search statement to select it. Then select either [REMOVE], [EDIT], to delete or revise a search statement, or [AND] or [OR], to combine search statements. Selected statements display in the Search Box in the top frame where they can be edited. Click on [SEARCH] to run the revised search. To combine sets using NOT type in the set number for each statement in the Search Box using the following format: #1 not #2.

To limit searches:

Click on [CHANGE] in the box in the right hand corner of the top frame. To clear previously

selected limits click on [CLEAR]. Select either Quick Limits tab or All Limits tab.

QUICK LIMITS

Limit to 1997 to current only. Select by clicking box.

ALL LIMITS

Click on the arrow to the right of each limit to display the drop down menu of selections. Click on

the desired selections from the drop down menu. Hold down the Control or Shift key to select multiple terms

from the menu.

To view results: The default display is a list of brief citations in reverse chronological order by publication date. Click on [Change Format] to change the citation display format, number of citations displayed on the virtual page, or sort. Click on the Full Citation hyperlink to see a single record’s the full citation, including abstract. To get back to the results list click on icon. Click on the icon to see if the library has access to full text online or in print.

To mark items: To mark or select a citation click on the box to the left of the citation. The marked citations can then be printed, saved, or emailed as a list. To clear all the marked items click on [Clear Marked] and to unmark a single item click on the box a second time.

To print: Click on . On the Print Records screen, choose which records (all, record number 1-10, or marked records), which fields (displayed fields, all fields, citation only, citation and abstract, or selected fields. For the latter, click on [Select fields] to see a list of choices.) The search history, record numbers, and field labels (short, long, or both) may also be chosen to be included in the printed list. When all options have been selected, click on [Print] or [Preview], to see what will actually be printed. From the Preview screen click on [Print] to print the preview. If [Print] is selected while viewing a single complete citation, only that record will be printed.

To download to a disk: Click on . On the Save Records screen, you will see same options as described in the Print instructions. When finished selecting options, click on [Save]. Choose the drive, directory, and name for the file using in the window that appears. It is here where the format can be changed from. dat to .txt, doc. Click on [Back] to go back to the results or logout.

To email results: Click on to email the results. Type in the email address of the person(s) receiving the results in the designated space. There is also a second space for additional email addresses. The subject line can be changed from “WebSpirs5 records. The other options are the same as for printing.

To quit: Click on [Logout].

For further help with database searching, call the

Reference Desk at the UF HSC Library 352-392-3585.

For HSC Library database access information, call the

Informatics Lab at 352-392-3854.

For the Borland Library, Jacksonville call 904-244-3240.