On January 4, 2019, NLM staff provided a highlights tour of the 2019 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). A 20-minute presentation featured new publication types, including systematic reviews; three deleted subheadings; and additional terminology for data, neoplasms and more. Following the presentation, Indexing and MeSH experts answered user questions.

For more information about 2019 MeSH, see What's New for 2019 MeSH, MEDLINE Data Changes - 2019, and the Introduction to MeSH - 2019. You can also find more information about the systematic review strategy mentioned in the webinar here.

Webinar Q&A:

Q: Why am I seeing new, not-yet-indexed records with the publication type of "systematic review?"

A: Publication types can be assigned by publishers when they submit their records to PubMed. You therefore may see publication types applied to records even before NLM staff have reviewed them.

Q: How does an NLM indexer decide what is a "systematic review?"

A: In general, if an author describes their article as a particular type of work, that is how the record is indexed. If the author indicates that the work reports on a systematic review, the publication type Systematic Review will be assigned to the record.

Q: How is the new PubMed systematic review filter different from the old filter?

A: The new PubMed systematic review filter is a search strategy that includes the publication type, but also searches for words indicating a systematic review in the title or abstract, or from journals that are comprised of systematic reviews. The original filter was broader, and included other types of review literature, consensus development conferences, and practice guidelines. See the new strategy.

Last Reviewed: November 20, 2019