ABSTRACT

Objective : Through an analysis of key words in English appearing in the Journal of the Korean society of occupational therapy, this study aimed at improving the understanding and utilization of MeSH terminology by examining how much the key words coincide with the MeSH terminology and how different the frequent key words in English are as compared with the MeSH terminology. Methods : The subjects of this study were 1,225 key words in English from 346 articles from the inaugural issue of the Journal of the Korean Society of Occupational Therapy, Volume 1, No. 1 in 1993 through Volume 18, No. 4 in 2010. This study analyzed how much the key words in English coincide with the MeSH terminology. The degree of coincidence was classified to complete the coincidence, partial coincidence (entry term, singular and plural errors, front and back coincidence, use of abbreviations), and discord. Results : Complete coincidence between key words in English and the MeSH terminology was 20.8%; partial coincidence, 30.8%; and discord, 48.4%. The MeSH terminology used most among the key words in English were‘ Stroke’,‘ Occupational therapy’, and‘ Cerebral palsy’in the order of frequency. The most used entry terms, which are a form of partial coincidence, were‘ Dysphagia’and‘ Assistive technology’. The most used key words in English in discord with the MeSH terminology were‘ Occupational therapist’,‘ Hand function’, and‘ Unilateral neglect’. Conclusion : Using MeSH terminology when selecting key words in English is recommended such that the Journal of the Korean Society of Occupational Therapy can be searched from the well-known MEDLINE, and papers can be systematically reviewed focused on grounds. (Note from editor,“ focused on grounds”is not clear to me. Please check it carefully.) Accordingly, this recommendation should be included in uniform manuscript requirements so that authors can select key words in English from the MeSH terminology. Through further study, it will be necessary to publish a book of key words for the terminology of occupational therapy based on MeSH terminology.