How to Find Medical Information
How to Find Medical Information
You May Want More Information
After contacting the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) or the NIAMS Information Clearinghouse, you may want to find additional information on a disease or disorder. Searching for medical information can be confusing, especially for first-timers. However, if you are patient and stick to it, you can find a wealth of information. Today’s computer technology is making it easier than ever for people to track down medical and health information. There are also many other sources of medical information available in textbooks, journal articles, and reference books and from health care organizations. This booklet explains how to locate these important sources of information.
Where to Find Medical Information
* Community library
* Federal Government clearinghouses
* Associations and voluntary organizations
* Medical, hospital, or university libraries
* Personal physician
* Nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, or other health professional
* Telephone or fax services
* Computer databases
* The Internet
Start With Your Community Library
Most people have a library in or near their community, and it’s a good place to start to look for medical information. Before going to the library, you may find it helpful to make a list of topics you want information about and questions you have. Also, if you’ve received a NIAMS information package, you’ll notice the list of additional references at the end of most articles. You may want to get a copy of some of these articles. Your topic list and the information package will make it easier for the librarian to direct you to the best resources.
Basic Medical References
Many community libraries have a collection of basic medical references. These references may include medical dictionaries or encyclopedias, drug information handbooks, basic medical and nursing textbooks, and directories of physicians and medical specialists (listings of doctors). You may also wish to find magazine articles on a certain topic. Look in the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for articles on health and medicine that were published in consumer magazines.
Other Resources
Infotrac, a CD-ROM computer database you’re most likely to find at a public library, indexes hundreds of popular magazines and newspapers, as well as some medical journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine. Your library may also carry MEDLINE®, Index Medicus, Abridged Index Medicus, or the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature in print format or on a computer database. The Consumer Health and Nutrition Index may be available in print form as well. These resources will help you find journal articles written for health professionals. Many of the indexes have abstracts that provide a summary of each journal article. Articles published in medical journals can be technical, but they may be the most current source of information on medical topics.
Interlibrary Loans
Although most community libraries don’t have a large collection of medical and nursing journals, your librarian may be able to get copies of the articles you want. Interlibrary loans allow your librarian to request a copy of an article from a library that carries that particular medical journal. Your library may charge a fee for this service.
Medical and Health Directories
You may find many useful medical and health information directories at your library. Ask your librarian about the following resources:*
* Directory of Physicians in the United States. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association (AMA) updated yearly-provides information such as address, medical school attended, year of license, specialty, and certifications for physicians who are members of the AMA.
* Health Hotlines-a booklet of toll-free numbers of health information hotlines available from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) or on the Internet at http://newsis.nlm.nih.gov/hotlines/.
* Medical and Health Information Directory. 9th edition. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1997-includes publications, organizations, libraries, and health services (three volumes).
* The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists. New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who, updated yearly-provides information on physicians certified in various specialties by the American Board of Medical Specialists.
* Rees, A., editor. The Consumer Health Information Sourcebook. 5th edition. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1997-lists information clearinghouses, books, and other resources.
* White, B.J., & Madone, E., editors. The Self-Help Sourcebook: The Comprehensive Reference of Self-Help Group Resources. 6th edition. Denville, NJ: Northwest Covenant Medical Center, 1997-lists over 700 organizations that offer support groups.
* Names of resources and organizations included in this fact sheet are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.
If you find a particularly useful book at the library, you can buy a copy at your local bookstore. If the book isn’t in stock, your bookstore can probably order a copy for you.
Some medical references have been converted from book form to a CD-ROM or disk for use on a personal computer. If you have a computer with a CD-ROM drive, color monitor, and sound card, you can use compact disks to locate medical information. Check with your local bookstore or computer store for software programs that contain health information.
