INTRODUCTION: The process of indexing consisted of two phases: firstly, to identify and represent the intellectual contents of a document; and secondly, the translation of the subject analysis into a specified language, with the aid of key words. At the Instituto de Doenças do Tórax da UFRJ medical library, the indexing was performed through a controlled vocabulary - the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). The purpose of this study was to identify if the authors' subject headings were adequate for indexing Master's degree theses and dissertations on respiratory diseases. METHOD: The key words of 29 Master theses and dissertations, from 1990 through 1996, were studied. RESULTS: The data collection showed that 29 authors employed 101 key words (3.48 headings/author). Among the 101 key words, 47 (47%) were adequate. CONCLUSION: Forty-seven per cent of the key words employed, on Master's degree theses and dissertations on respiratory diseases (IDT-UFRJ, 1990-1996), were adequate.
Abstracting and indexing; Key words; Dissertations, academic; Respiratory tract diseases
