How can I obtain the full text of medical literature through PubMed?

PubMed provides free access to citations and abstracts for biomedical literature. Obtaining the full text through PubMed, however, depends on the specific article's access status and requires utilizing linked resources or institutional subscriptions. Full text availability is primarily determined by publisher policies and copyright restrictions. Some articles, particularly older publications or those funded by specific grants, are freely accessible in PubMed Central (PMC) and have a direct "Free Full Text" link. For other articles, the "Full text links" section provides links to the publisher's site, where access may require payment or a subscription through your affiliated university, hospital, or library. Locating the article using its PubMed ID (PMID) within your institution's library proxy system is often essential for subscribed content. To access full texts, first search PubMed. Look for either the "Free in PMC" indicator or the "Full text links" section when viewing a record. If available, click the PMC link or the publisher link provided. When encountering publisher paywalls, check if you are logged in via your institutional library's proxy; access permissions are usually authenticated automatically. If direct access fails, use the PMID to search your institution's library holdings. Alternative options include requesting articles through interlibrary loan or exploring legitimate repositories like Europe PMC. Effectively using PubMed for full text is crucial for evidence-based practice and research continuity.