Start a Research Project
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Library Research ChecklistCould you use a refresher on starting the library research process? Go to this page for a step-by-step description of the process.
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Search Strategy Checklist & TipsDefine the topic: know what you are looking for. Take the time to write down your topic and consider it from all angles. Try to be specific about what it is you want to discover about your topic (and more tips).
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Dissertation CalculatorEnter in the due date for your research project (paper, speech, lab report) and get a suggested timeline for completing with links to the resources to help you succeed in each step. Optional: sign up for reminder via text.
Find Information (Articles/Books/Drugs & Supplements)
Primary article databases
Start with:
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Ovid MEDLINESearches MEDLINE, which is the primary source of journal articles for the health sciences (fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, health care systems, and basic sciences). Ovid MEDLINE is optimized for advanced literature searches. Coverage is from the 1940s to the present.
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PubMedSearches MEDLINE, which is the primary source of journal articles for the health sciences (fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, health care systems, and basic sciences). Coverage is from the 1940s to the present.
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CINAHL (Nursing & Allied Health)Covers nursing and allied health journal articles, book chapters, and dissertations, as well as providing summarized evidence-based resources such as care sheets and quick lessons.
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PsycINFOFind articles in thousands of psychology journals, from 1806 to current. View this tutorial to learn how to go from a general idea to a very precise set of results of journal articles and scholarly materials.
Secondary Article Databases
Then try these:
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Embase / Embase ClassicEmbase is a biomedical and pharmacological database covering journal articles, conference proceedings, and gray literature. It is strong in its coverage of pharmaceutical research and international and non-English content. Covers 1947 to present.
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ScopusInterdisciplinary - covers the fields of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts and humanities.
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Agricultural & Environmental Science DatabaseSearch journals and literature on agriculture, pollution, animals, environment, policy, natural resources, water issues and more. Searches tools like AGRICOLA, ESPM, and EIS databases.
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PAIS Index (Political Science and Public Policy)PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) searches journals and other sources on issues of political science and public policy. This includes government, politics, international relations, human rights and more.
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Academic Search PremierMultidisciplinary, scholarly research database providing access to full-text journals, magazines, and other resources. For public health students, this database is useful if your research is related to sociology, social work, and related social sciences.
Special Databases
Also consider these specialized resources:
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Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)Find surveys, tests, observation checklists, and questionnaires. Note: One user can access at a time.
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Dissertations and ThesesProQuest Dissertations & Theses contains dissertations and theses from over 1,000 North American and European universities. Full-text access to many University of Minnesota and Big Ten Academic Alliance theses and dissertations.
Books/Background Information
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Clinical KeySearch for information on medical conditions, drugs, and procedures in an array of content including books, videos, images, and articles. Create a personal account to download PDF book chapters.
Drug & Supplement Information
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MICROMEDEXProvides access to drug information resources, including drug identification, packaging information, interaction and contraindication information, drug prices, international formulations, occupational safety sheets, safety in pregnancy, and more.
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Natural MedicinesNatural Medicines provides evidence-based information and ratings on over 90,000 dietary supplements, natural medicines, and integrative therapies. Includes these databases: Foods, Herbs, & Supplements; Health & Wellness; Sports Medicine; Comparative Effectiveness; Manufacturers; Commercial Products; and Medical Conditions.
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Toxicology Resource GuideFor additional resources and instruction on searching for toxicology information, see the Libraries' Toxicology Guide.
Culturally appropriate health care
A person’s culture is multifaceted, and culturally appropriate care requires a holistic approach. Some important factors include religious fasting holidays, cultural views of mental illness, and family structures. Taken together, knowledge of these factors can support respectful conversations between providers and patients and enhance the health care experience.
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EthnoMedFind information about cultural beliefs, medical issues, and related topics pertinent to the health care of immigrants to the United States. Access relevant information through the Cultural Profiles, Clinical Topic, or the multilingual Patient Education categories.
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Culture CluesSuccinct tip sheets for clinicians about communicating with different cultures or patient groups. Sheets are written by culture and provide information on cultural norms around touch, decision-making processes, end-of-life rituals, and more.
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MedlinePlus: Health Information in Multiple LanguagesContains multilingual, multicultural health information and patient education materials about health conditions and wellness topics. Materials may be available as printable documents, audio, and video. This page provides links by language. Users can also browse by health topic to see materials on each topic in multiple available languages.
Manage Citations
Citation Style Guides
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Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)Purdue University maintains a user-friendly website directing users how to properly format citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Citation Managers
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Citation Management ToolsThe Libraries' web page on citation management tools explains their utility and provides an overview of tools popular in the health sciences fields.
Tutorials
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Tutorial: Literature Searching in Ovid MedlineLearn about literature searching in Ovid Medline including how to use MeSH headings and keywords, how to limit a search, how to find full text and how to save a search.
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Tutorial: Researching & writing a literature reviewUnderstand the purpose of a literature review and the procedure for conducting one.
Health Sciences Library (East Bank)
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The Health Sciences Library in Phillips-Wangensteen Building includes collections for medicine, nursing, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, basic sciences, and more.
Last Updated: Feb 12, 2021 11:25 AM
URL: https://libguides.umn.edu/publichealth