This directory is a compendium of specialized, annotated data sites, web resources, and other on-line sites categorized according to major medical and health disciplines. Each entry cites the URL, sponsor, purpose, followed by an annotation of timesaving and relevant site and referral information. This book is organized into two sections: Section I: Directory Primer and Section II: Directory Entries. The first section serves as an introduction and overview of the reference contents, including descriptions of on-line and electronic data sources and search and retrieval tips. Section II lists the URLs and supplemental resources for a vast number of allied health on-line resources.

When you need to know how others have dealt with a proposed health care change, you cannot wait three months for the next conference, or nine months for the next book to come out - this is the real power of the Internet. It allows the instant exchange of information with peers around the world, giving you the knowledge edge to keep your nursing or health care practice progressive. This is a primer to for those who have little or no computer experience, describing in plain language the Net and how it works, including how to use various Internet tools. In addition, Margaret Edwards provides an extensive listing of health-related Internet resources, from an on-line version of the American Journal of Nursing, to the "Virtual Nursing Centre". In short, readers will find this directory, complete with descriptions of each entry, a treasure trove of the information resources available for health care professionals on the Internet.

There is a wealth of health information on the Internet. Today’s students of health studies and all health care professionals must be able to use this valuable resource and extract from it what is most relevant and useful. In order for them to do this purposefully and skilfully, they need to have a thorough understanding of how the system works and have the ability to navigate their way around it with ease. The Essential Guide to the Internet for Health Professionals is a superb photocopiable resource for lecturers and a self instructional guide for students. It shows students how to: get online; navigate the World Wide Web; find health information on the Internet; communicate with other health professionals; access free health and medical resources; publish on the web; use online help with health studies assignments; search for jobs. Each unit contains easy-to-follow activities and photocopiable worksheets.

This User’s Guide is intended to support the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and quality evaluation of registries created to increase understanding of patient outcomes. For the purposes of this guide, a patient registry is an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure, and that serves one or more predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purposes. A registry database is a file (or files) derived from the registry. Although registries can serve many purposes, this guide focuses on registries created for one or more of the following purposes: to describe the natural history of disease, to determine clinical effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of health care products and services, to measure or monitor safety and harm, and/or to measure quality of care. Registries are classified according to how their populations are defined. For example, product registries include patients who have been exposed to biopharmaceutical products or medical devices. Health services registries consist of patients who have had a common procedure, clinical encounter, or hospitalization. Disease or condition registries are defined by patients having the same diagnosis, such as cystic fibrosis or heart failure. The User’s Guide was created by researchers affiliated with AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program, particularly those who participated in AHRQ’s DEcIDE (Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness) program. Chapters were subject to multiple internal and external independent reviews.

Advances in medical, biomedical and health services research have reduced the level of uncertainty in clinical practice. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) complement this progress by establishing standards of care backed by strong scientific evidence. CPGs are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care. These statements are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and costs of alternative care options. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust examines the current state of clinical practice guidelines and how they can be improved to enhance healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines now are ubiquitous in our healthcare system. The Guidelines International Network (GIN) database currently lists more than 3,700 guidelines from 39 countries. Developing guidelines presents a number of challenges including lack of transparent methodological practices, difficulty reconciling conflicting guidelines, and conflicts of interest. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust explores questions surrounding the quality of CPG development processes and the establishment of standards. It proposes eight standards for developing trustworthy clinical practice guidelines emphasizing transparency; management of conflict of interest ; systematic review-guideline development intersection; establishing evidence foundations for and rating strength of guideline recommendations; articulation of recommendations; external review; and updating. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust shows how clinical practice guidelines can enhance clinician and patient decision-making by translating complex scientific research findings into recommendations for clinical practice that are relevant to the individual patient encounter, instead of implementing a one size fits all approach to patient care. This book contains information directly related to the work of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as various Congressional staff and policymakers. It is a vital resource for medical specialty societies, disease advocacy groups, health professionals, private and international organizations that develop or use clinical practice guidelines, consumers, clinicians, and payers.

Make Internet medical research simpler and more productive! The rapid proliferation of Web sites makes finding medical information easy. Knowing when the information is accurate and reliable can be much more difficult. Health Care Resources on the Internet: A Guide for Librarians and Health Care Consumers discusses how to locate, evaluate, and use health care information available in online form. As expectations shift from finding information in books to locating it on the World Wide Web, Health Care Resources on the Internet provides you with the skills you need. Whether you?re a first-time Internet user unfamiliar with search engines or an old hand at Boolean logic, you will find helpful search tips and strategies. Moreover, this comprehensive book offers specific advice on assessing the reliability of the information you find. Health Care Resources on the Internet simplifies your hunt for information by recommending trustworthy Web sites. It covers topics including: consumer and professional megasites for health care information using Medline searching for information on specific diseases finding open clinical trials consumer health information alternative medicine Illustrated with tables and figures, Health Care Resources on the Internet is an essential guidebook for health-conscious consumers, information professionals, and medical professionals.

First published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.