NLM have launched Medlineplus:
"Recognising that informed customers are better patients but have varied
health information needs, NLM has developed Medlineplus, an easy to
understand resource for the public which includes MEDLINE.....as well as
links to self help groups..clinical trials.." (Donald Lindberg)
See:http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
Apart from links to numerous sources, it also has pre-formated Medline
searches on a number of popular topics. For example, on selecting asthma
you can :
* Search MEDLINE for recent articles about Asthma (reviews, practice
guidelines, clinical trials)
* Search MEDLINE for recent articles about Asthma (diagnosis)
* Search MEDLINE for recent articles about Asthma (exercise-induced)
* Search MEDLINE for recent articles about Asthma (therapy)
On selecting one of these topics a well defined search is executed. e.g t=
he
search strategy for asthma (therapy) is:
(((("Asthma"[MeSH Major Topic]
AND
((((((((randomized controlled trial[PTYP] OR "drug therapy"[Subheading]) =
OR
"therapeutic use"[Subheading:noexp]) OR random*[WORD]) OR
"surgery"[Subheading]) OR "therapy"[Subheading]) OR
"radiotherapy"[Subheading]) OR "diet therapy"[Subheading]) OR
"rehabilitation"[Subheading])) AND "English"[Language]) AND "Human"[MeSH
Terms])
AND ("1998/08/24 05.57"[EDat] : "1998/10/23 05.57"[EDat]))
So, if you have consumer health enquries, try Medlineplus.
Robert Kiley - Information Service Manager,
Wellcome Trust, 183, Euston Rd, London NW1 2BE
Tel: 0171 611 8338; Fax: 0171 6118726; e-mail:[log in to unmask]
Editor, Health Information in the Internet
<http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/healthinfo>
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