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Comparing Embase and Scopus Indexing

Embase and Scopus have differences in their indexing focus and search capabilities: Embase focuses on full text indexing of biomedical literature and uses Emtree, a taxonomy for searching that maps synonyms to preferred terms, allowing for more comprehensive search results. Scopus focuses on abstracts and citations, without synonyms or a taxonomy, limiting the terms that can be searched. Embase indexing includes subheadings that provide additional context about drugs and diseases mentioned in articles, enabling easier filtering of large result sets to find the most relevant content.

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Aditya Ghosh
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144 views5 pages

Comparing Embase and Scopus Indexing

Embase and Scopus have differences in their indexing focus and search capabilities: Embase focuses on full text indexing of biomedical literature and uses Emtree, a taxonomy for searching that maps synonyms to preferred terms, allowing for more comprehensive search results. Scopus focuses on abstracts and citations, without synonyms or a taxonomy, limiting the terms that can be searched. Embase indexing includes subheadings that provide additional context about drugs and diseases mentioned in articles, enabling easier filtering of large result sets to find the most relevant content.

Uploaded by

Aditya Ghosh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Embase vs.

Scopus –
What’s the
Difference?
2

Searches Focus on Different Content

Scopus focuses on
abstracts and
citations, enabling
navigation of the
Embase focuses on published literature
the full text indexing
of biomedical
content, bringing
insights through
structured indexing of
content
3

Embase uses Emtree to Search

How is this different?


A taxonomy aided search explores (biomedical)
synonyms and the underlying concepts and terms.

Why is this important?


A taxonomy aided search will yield more accurate and
comprehensive results. When dealing with growing
amounts of information, precision is key.

Who benefits?
Any searcher who needs a comprehensive result set: a
systematic reviewer, a drug or device tracker, etc.
4

So Search Results Include Articles with all Typed


Terms and Synonyms

1. Emtree has > 70,000 preferred terms for searching


(these are the terms displayed with records), including Additional information:
over 30,000 drugs Drug and disease terms
(MEDLINE has only 27,000 terms, including ~8,500 are qualified by
drugs) searchable sub-
headings (e.g. drug
2. Emtree has > 290,000 synonyms, which can be used for therapy) describing their
searching since they map to the preferred terms precise role in the article
(Scopus has no synonyms, so fewer terms are available
for searching)
What is mapping?
3. Emtree has an extensive tree structure making it Mapping means that
possible to search on groups of terms searchers get the same
(e.g. all monoclonal antibodies) results regardless of
(Such searches are impossible on Scopus, which has no which term they use, e.g.
tree hierarchy — e.g. a Scopus search on "heart attack" Vioxx (synonym) or
misses records mentioning "myocardial infarction" or rofecoxib the preferred
articles indexed using the Emtree term "heart infarction) term)
5

Embase Includes Subheadings

How is this different?


Embase has subheadings, which provide detailed drug
or disease context.

Why is this important?


Subheadings can reveal a great deal of information
about the full text article, allowing for easier and better
(more accurate) content filtering.

Who benefits?
Any searcher who needs to shift through a gigantic stack
of literature and needs help in drilling down to a relevant
selection.

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