Kay Hogan Smith, MLS, MPH, CHES

Branching Out: Introduction to Sources for Public Health Research

Social Sciences Research Toolkit

Objectives

• Identify starting points for public health library research

• Identify additional resources for public health research

• Demonstrate ways to use specific databases to locate public health resources

• Define grey literature and its uses in public health, as well as resources for locating public health-related grey literature

Where to Start?

• Good old PubMed* – Available through Lister Hill Library (http://www.uab.edu/lister/) and Sterne Library (http://www.mhsl.uab.edu/2009/databases/he/)

• Evidence-Based Public Health Libguide - http://libguides.lhl.uab.edu/ebph

[*Note: Also available directly at pubmed.gov – however, use the Library interfaces while you’re at UAB. It makes getting fulltext articles easier!]

PubMed - Demo

PubMed Help?

• See http://libguides.lhl.uab.edu/PubMed• Ask a Librarian! http://www.uab.edu/lister/ask

Other Public Health Resources

• Cochrane Library• POPLINE• Toxnet• PHPartners• Others – see

http://www.uab.edu/lister/databases, “Public Health” category

Cochrane Library

POPLINE

TOXNET

PHPartners

Don’t Forget – Social Sciences Databases!

• PsycINFO• Sociological Abstracts• PAIS• Others – see

http://www.mhsl.uab.edu/2009/databases/ or http://www.uab.edu/lister/databases

What about “Grey Literature”?

• Definition: In general, grey literature is material (in print or online) that is not controlled by commercial publishers. Examples: reports, official documents, proceedings, informal communications, pamphlets, etc.

• Grey literature can provide excellent resources for public health research (as well as prevent “publication bias”)!

Where do I find grey literature?

• Although grey literature can be excluded by some databases such as PubMed, others such as Cochrane Library and POPLINE do include grey literature.

• Use Google and Google Scholar Advanced, incorporating domain extensions such as .org in your search strategy.

• Use your critical evaluation skills to make sure the source is reliable!

Other Grey Literature Resources

• NYAM Grey Literature Report - http://www.greylit.org/

• MEDNAR (“Deep Web Searching”) - http://mednar.com/mednar/

• LHL LibGuide on Grey Literature - http://libguides.lhl.uab.edu/GreyLit

In Summary...

• We touched on starting points and points beyond for thorough public health research.

• Remember, public health is a very broad field – it may require you to use many different types of resources besides health, such those in economic, government, social sciences and other disciplines.

• Your librarian is your friend! Call us – Kay H. Smith, 934-2208 and Brooke Becker, 934-6364!