Keeping current: Create alerts

Want to manage your own alerts?

Then check out the Apps & podcasts tab for information on the Read by QxMD and BrowZine apps!

It is possible to save both a search strategy in Ovid MEDLINE (for later re-use), and to utilise that search as the basis of a search alert.

Please Note: These features require that the user have a personal account in Ovid MEDLINE so you can access My Workspace (see the dedicated info box for further details).

• Saving Searches (Tutorial)
• Alerts (Tutorial)

1. Login to Ovid MEDLINE
2. Create a search/search strategy
3. Select the search lines you wish to retain in your alert
4. Click on the Save button directly underneath the Search History and log into your personal account
5. Enter a Search Name and Comment and ensure that you select ‘AutoAlert' from the ‘Type'; drop-down list.
   Note: We recommend the subject search for the Search Name field and your full name in the Comment field.
6. Choose the Scheduling and Delivery options to suit you, including the delivery option of email or RSS.
7. Click on the Save button when complete - you should receive an email/RSS alert every time an article is added to the database that matches your search

For more videos like this, visit the OvidWoltersKluwer channel on YouTube

It is possible to save both a search strategy in PubMed(for later re-use), and to utilise that search as the basis of a search alert.

Please Note:These features require that the user have a personal account in PubMedso you can access MyNCBI:

1. Login to PubMed
2. Click ‘Save Search’ beside the search box.
3. A pop-up box will appear. Register for a MyNCBI account or log-in if already registered.
4. Select the option to receive e-mail alerts and then fill in the details.
5. You should receive an e-mail every time an article is added to the database that matches your search.

Google alerts are a great tool for research, as you can set an alert so that Google searches the web regularly on a topic, gathering hits from a range of sources (including news sources, videos and blogs).

With Google alerts you can get the most relevant and new Google search results on topics/keywords/searches of your choice, delivered directly to your email address. All you need is a Google account, which you can set up here, and then to set up an alert on the Google alerts webpage.

For support/instructions on how to create a Google alert, please visit this support site.

Sign up for one or more of the 20 monthly specialty email alerts from NEJM. Offering a convenient way to scan and access recently-published original research, review articles, case reports, and other valuable NEJM content important to you and your practice.

Specialties include:

• Allergy/Immunology
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Genetics
• Geriatrics/Aging
• Health Policy and Reform
• Hematology/Oncology
• Infectious Disease
• Nephrology
• Neurology/Neurosurgery
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Primary Care/Hospitalist
• Psychiatry
• Pulmonary/Critical Care
• Rheumatology
• Surgery

To set up alerts:

1. Login toNEJM
2. Create a free account
3. Access the My Accountgt; Alert page from the menu
4. Select your preferredContent Alerts and Specialty Update options
5. Select your Email Preferences
6. Click theSave Changes button
7. You should receive an e-mail every time a NEW issue to released or an article is added to NEJM that matches your selected specialty.

Blogging is an easy way of disseminating one's thoughts and ideas over the internet. Doctors increasingly are using blogs to share information with their colleagues and patients are blogging to share their experiences.

Blogging resources:

• Scientific American article on how good blogging is for your health: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-healthy-type/
• Life in the fast lane - List of Australian and NZ Medical themed blogs: http://lifeinthefastlane.com/resources/anz-medical-blogs/
• A website which lists anaesthesiology blogs you might want to check out: i-Anesthesiology Blogshttp://internetmedicine.com/anesthesiology-blogs/

Examples of anaesthesia-related blogs:

• Maintained by Anaesthesia: Journal of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: The Anaesthesia Blog
• A blog that aims to post educational resources and news in Anaesthesia and Intensive care: Anaesthesia-Intensive care blog

Self-service TOCs & RSS feeds

Setting up your own journal TOCs by email:

1. Find the journal from the ANZCA Library journal list, and click through to the website (authentication may be required)
2. Depending on the publisher, look for a link such as ‘Register for TOC Alertingrsquo;, ‘eTOC subscriptionrsquo; or ‘Email alertsrsquo; and register your details
3. Once you have confirmed your registration, you should start to receive the latest Table of Contents for your journals of interest via email as soon as they are published online

You can select RSS feeds from your favourite journals as well.

1. Find the journal from the ANZCA Library journal list, and click through to the website (authentication may be required)
2. Look for the RSS icon
3. You can proceed through to the link, and copy the address into your feed reader or app, or even link it to your email. For example, see these instructions on how to subscribe to RSS in Outlook.

JournalTOCs Tables of Contents service

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a method of receiving the latest information from websites and blogs. It is easiest to understand once it has been set-up so have a play around with it.

An example of a medically themed RSS feed provider is MedWorm, which is a medical RSS feed provider as well as a search engine built on data collected from RSS feeds. It then provides new outgoing RSS feeds on various medical categories that you can subscribe to via any RSS reader of your choice. Find out more on their website.

Below are some links to information about RSS feed readers, and recommended apps for smart phones and tablets (there are also links about how to use RSS on your computer).