LILACS – Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde – Informação e evidência científica e técnica em saúde da América Latina e Caribe – BIREME/OPAS/OMS – LILACS – Información y evidencia científica y técnica en salud de América Latina y el Caribe | LILACS – Scientífic and technic information and evidence of Latin-american and Caribbean Countries

LILACS – Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde – Informação e evidência científica e técnica em saúde da América Latina e Caribe – BIREME/OPAS/OMS – LILACS – Información y evidencia científica y técnica en salud de América Latina y el Caribe | LILACS – Scientífic and technic information and evidence of Latin-american and Caribbean Countries Um bem público regional de informação científica Un bien público regional de información científica A regional public good on scientific information

How many descriptors should I apply to a document? Is there a limit to the number of descriptors and types of publication?

7 de November de 2024

The number of primary, secondary, pre-coded descriptors, and types of publication varies depending on the content of the document.

According to LILACS methodology, the maximum limits are set as follows:

  • Primary descriptors: 6
  • Secondary descriptors: 20
  • Pre-coded descriptors: As many as necessary to describe the subject or historical period
  • Types of publication: Generally one, and rarely more than 3 descriptors

This number of descriptors often applies to the indexing of articles with clinical research results, as LILACS methodology emphasizes specificity as one of the fundamental principles of its indexing process.

Documents with broader content coverage, such as books, clinical practice guidelines, and reviews, or those with shorter length such as editorials, typically have fewer descriptors applied. However, it is important to note that it is rare for a document to have only one primary descriptor.

Category: Indexing of Documents in the LILACS Methodology

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