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Biomedical subjects

Jonathan D Eldredge

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan D Eldredge.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

The Latin American Social Medicine database.

BACKGROUND: Public health practitioners and researchers for many years have been attempting to understand more clearly the links between social conditions and the health of populations. Until recently, most public health professionals in English-speaking countries were unaware that their colleagues in Latin America had developed an entire field of inquiry and practice devoted to making these links more clearly understood. The Latin American Social Medicine (LASM) database finally bridges this previous gap. DESCRIPTION: This public health informatics case study describes the key features of a unique information resource intended to improve access to LASM literature and to augment understanding about the social determinants of health. This case study includes both quantitative and qualitative evaluation data. Currently the LASM database at The University of New Mexico http://hsc.unm.edu/lasm brings important information, originally known mostly within professional networks located in Latin American countries to public health professionals worldwide via the Internet. The LASM database uses Spanish, Portuguese, and English language trilingual, structured abstracts to summarize classic and contemporary works. CONCLUSION: This database provides helpful information for public health professionals on the social determinants of health and expands access to LASM.

Databases, Bibliographic↗

Search strategies for population and social subjects in a medical school curriculum.

This case study describes strategies developed for medical students to conduct Specific (as opposed to Sensitive) searches in PubMed so they can quickly locate several relevant references to articles on the population and social aspects of medicine. The Specific search strategy protocol for population and social aspects of medicine involves use of the MeSH Database, certain features of the Detailed Display in the MeSH Database, and applying Limits. By teaching the Specific form of search strategy, busy users can learn a handful of basic techniques that should yield a useful proportion of references, thereby ensuring these users' frequent success.

Computer User Training↗

Inventory of research methods for librarianship and informatics.

This article defines and describes the rich variety of research designs found in librarianship and informatics practice. Familiarity with the range of methods and the ability to make distinctions between those specific methods can enable authors to label their research reports correctly. The author has compiled an inventory of methods from a variety of disciplines, but with attention to the relevant applications of a methodology to the field of librarianship. Each entry in the inventory includes a definition and description for the particular research method. Some entries include references to resource material and examples.

Humans↗

The randomised controlled trial design: unrecognized opportunities for health sciences librarianship.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the essential components of the Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and its major variations; to describe less conventional applications of the RCT design found in the health sciences literature with potential relevance to health sciences librarianship; to discuss the limited number of RCTs within health sciences librarianship. METHODS: narrative review supported to a limited extent with PubMed and Library Literature database searches consistent with specific search parameters. In addition, more systematic methods, including handsearching of specific journals, to identify health sciences librarianship RCTs. RESULTS: While many RCTs within the health sciences follow more conventional patterns, some RCTs assume certain unique features. Selected examples illustrate the adaptations of this experimental design to answering questions of possible relevance to health sciences librarians. The author offers several strategies for controlling bias in library and informatics applications of the RCT and acknowledges the potential of the electronic era in providing many opportunities to utilize the blinding aspects of RCTs. RCTs within health sciences librarianship inhabit a limited number of subject domains such as education. This limited scope offers both advantages and disadvantages for making Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) a reality. CONCLUSIONS: The RCT design offers the potential to answer far more EBL questions than have been addressed by the design to date. Librarians need only extend their horizons through use of the versatile RCT design into new subject domains to facilitate making EBL a reality.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Evidence-based librarianship: what might we expect in the years ahead?

OBJECTIVE: To predict the possible accomplishments of the Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) movement by the years 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. METHODS: Predictive. The author draws upon recent events, relevant historical events and anecdotal accounts to detect evidence of predictable trends. RESULTS: The author develops a set of probable predictions for the development of EBL. Although incomplete evidence exists, some trends still seem discernible. CONCLUSION: By 2020, EBL will have become indistinguishable from mainstream health sciences librarianship/informatics practices.

England↗