The Medical Library Association Encyclopedic Guide to Searching and Finding Health Information on the Web: Diseases and disorders

Book excerpt: Annotation. Searching for health information may be the most important type of search a librarian performs in a day. Instead of starting a health care search with a blank computer screen or simply accessing ordinary information available most anywhere on the Web, start with help from the prestigious Medical Library Association. Each entry will show you how an experienced health sciences librarian would approach the question. You can begin a truly valuable search knowing: Special searching issues What to ask Where to start Supplementary search strategies Topic profile Recommended search terms and important sites Hotline phone numbers FAQs Publications on the Internet Professional organizations Patient support organizations and discussion groups Best "One-Stop-Shops" Finally, there's one ready-reference source, written by librarians to help their colleagues, that covers every important aspect of the question you or your user want to answer.