Instead of starting a health care search with a blank computer screen or simply accessing ordinary information available most anywhere on the Web, you can begin with help from the prestigious Medical Library Association. Each entry will show you how an experienced health sciences librarian would approach a question. You can begin a truly valuable search knowing: special searching issues, what to ask, where to start, supplementary search strategies, topic profile, recommended search terms and important sites, hotline phone numbers, FAQs, publications on the internet, professional organizations, patient support organizations and discussion groups, and best "one-stop-shops." Finally there's one ready-reference source written by librarians to help their colleagues that contains every important aspect of the question you or your patron want to answer. It's time-saving, it's authoritative, it sets a new standard for comprehensive medical information reference. <P> VOLUME 1: Search Strategies / Quick Reference Guide <BR>VOLUME 2: Diseases and Disorders / Mental Health and Mental Disorders <BR>VOLUME 3: Health and Wellness / Life Stages and Reproduction / Cumulative Index
*Starred Review* The amount of information available on the Web is overwhelming. Finding what one needs and making sure that it is accurate and reliable can be a daunting task; searching for health and medical information may literally be a matter of life or death. This guide, written and edited by a group of experienced medical librarians, provides a framework for obtaining the best results from an online search. It will be useful for both consumers and librarians, and it is an outstanding resource for training.
The three volumes cover search techniques as well as information about research on specific subject areas. Volume 1 covers basic elements in a search, among them understanding the question that is being asked, choosing concepts and search terms, and selecting a search engine. The reader will also find a complete step-by-step search procedure, information about the limitation of search engines, a list of more than 2,000 commonly used health and medical terms, forms that can be used for organizing searches, and criteria for evaluating Web sites. Volume 2 deals with specific illnesses, diseases, and conditions, both physical and mental. In addition to an overview and a list of relevant Web sites, each section includes recommended search terms, questions to ask, starting points, additional strategies, and a "Topic Profile"--the who, what, where, and when of each disease and disorder. Volume 3 covers broader topics dealing with health and wellness, life stages, and reproduction, among them diet and nutrition; safety issues, such as bioterrorism and traffic accidents; alternative and complementary therapies; multicultural health; lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender health issues; chronic illness; disability; and pain.
The Medical Library Association Encyclopedic Guide to Searching and Finding Health Information on the Web lives up to its title. Covering a wide range of health and medical topics, it will help both librarians and consumers search with confidence. The price may be a problem in this era of shrinking budgets, but medical, consumer health, and large public libraries should give it serious consideration. It is essential for libraries involved in teaching information literacy. A CD-ROM that may be purchased separately for $395 or with the print volumes for $495 has an HTML version of the text along with live links to almost 11,000 Web sites. RBB
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