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NCLive Overview of Medical and Health Databases NCLive has a variety of medical indexes, websites, links, and databases for health information. After selecting the NCLive link at the library homepage and clicking the NCLive icon you arrive at the NCLive homepage. Selecting the Browse Resources Tab returns the following Subject & Type list of resources. There is also an Alphabetized list. Clicking on the Medical and Health option returns the list below and continued on the next page. Note some of the sources are keyword EZ searchable and all are Full Text. Read the Descriptions of the resources to determine which source best suits your needs.
Health Source-Consumer Edition was selected for the following example. The keyword depression was keyed in the BASIC SEARCH screen below. Note the limiters (publication, date, FT only, etc.), which may be used to return more relevant results. The first page of 3386 results is shown below. One can sort and/or limit results at this point by clicking of the formats available (Magazines, Pamphlets, Reference Books, and CRS, i.e. Clinical Reference Systems).
Below is a partial list of the alphabetized list of depression terms and a list of record formats in which the terms are found. This database uses the subject term manic-depressive psychoses for bipolar depression. Under the subject term depression, mental the number of references to this condition is listed in the various types of resources indexed. Note the subdivisions for the subject of Depression, Mental and related terms links useful for fine-tuning a search. Below is a partial list of subdivisions. Below are related and narrower terms.
Three FT journal articles were retrieved using this more focused search strategy using the Boolean searching connector and and two authorized subject terms. This search was definitely more effective than the BACIC SEARCH using the keyword, depression that retrieved 3386 hits. Examining the abstract of record #1 verifies that the requirements of our search query were fulfilled. Practice using the Indexes, Publications, and Medical Dictionary Tabs, also available, to fine-tune your search strategies and queries. Note also that EBSCO provides an Images file as well. Remember to study the links to other articles having the same subject terms, sources, and authors to expand or re-direct your searches.
Next, we will look at a directory approach database that also has keyword capability. It is MEDLINEplus (Consumer Oriented level). The homepage is below. A simple keyword search (therapeutic cloning) has also been entered in the text field to illustrate a simple search. A sampling of the returns is shown below. Note the left panel has sorted the returns into various sub-categories in which the concept (therapeutic cloning) is found. There are 14 sources of information under the sub-category Cloning in the partial list in the right panel. There are several tabs for additional information and redirecting a search.
Clicking on the Health Topics sub-category, Genes and Gene Therapy, returns the following partial list of links to information concerning that category. Note the types of information available. MEDLINEplus is a powerful quality resource for research. Returning to the homepage of this site, let’s select the Major Category links listed in the left panel entitled Health Topics. Note the Spanish translator, FAQ , and Site Map buttons.
This partial page is what is retrieved. The 650 topics are arranged in a directory of categories that is easy to navigate and allows you to “drill down” to smaller subdivisions.
Selecting the disorders of the Blood/Lymphatic System returns the following subdivisions. One may continue to “drill down” to the subcategory of interest. At this point we find actual authorized Subject Terms which may be used for more relevant searching. Healthfinder is a very easy database to use. A portion of the homepage is below with a simple keyword search for diabetes already in the search box. This database also allows you to search by directory categories listed in the left panel of the screen.
The link to the Advanced Search example here allows one to limit results in this database. Use the pull down menus to determine in which categories, resource type, population groups, etc. best suits your needs.
The next example will feature the NC Public Health website which uses links and a directory for navigation around the site. The beginning of the homepage is below. Click on any link of interest and continue to “drill down” into the page beneath. Clicking on the DHHS Topic Index in the upper right hand corner will retrieve the following alphabetized list of topics. Click on the link of the topic of interest.
Below is the homepage of Health Web. As you can see, it is also easy to search either by keying in terms or by selecting a topic from the directory and “drilling down.”
Selecting the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases returned the page below.
There are many other very useful sites in the Health and Medicine category of the NCLive databases. It is well worth your time to familiarize yourself with them for quality health care information in a variety of formats from lay to professional levels. |
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Clicking on #1 retrieves first the abstract of the report. You can decide at this point if you want to investigate this report further. Clicking on the PDF Full Text link returns the full report. Note the Subject Terms in the abstract, which may be used, for more precise searching in an advanced search. This simple keyword search returned 3386 hits.
Using limiters would help narrow the returns. Better still is doing an ADVANCED SEARCH and making use of Subject terms as there are many types of depression and returns maybe in several formats.Let’s try an ADVANCED SEARCH now. First click on the Subject Button and key in the term depression in order to determine which type of depression we want to find. For example, what is the authorized subject term for bipolar depression, bipolar depression or manic depression? Doing an ADVANCED SEARCH and limiting our search terms to specific fields (Subject, Author, Abstract, Title, etc.), should limit our returns.
