Measuring the Compliance Rate of Keywords of the Articles of Journal of Paramedical Sciences with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Considering the importance of using indexing tools such as thesauri and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) in storage and retrieval of medical information, this study was performed with the aim to determine the compliance rate of keywords of articles published in an English-language journal Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Journal of Paramedical Sciences, with the MeSH.
This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study using applied method. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made checklist. In total, 1143 keywords extracted from 269 articles published in 24 issues of the journal; those keywords were compared with MeSH, and were classified in three groups: exact match, partial match and no match.
During the investigated years, on average, 277 keywords (24.2%) were exact matches, 409 keywords (35.8%) were partial matches, and the 457 keywords (40.0%) were not match with the terms contained in the MeSH. Keywords in match or match with the entry term categories formed the largest portion of partial match keywords.
The results show that the authors of this journal do not have sufficient knowledge on correct keyword selection with use of the MeSH, and it is necessary for them to be trained in the correct way. In addition, the editorial board of this English-language Iranian journal in the paramedical field should request authors to adjust their keywords based on the MeSH during article selection.