LibGuides: Public Health: Overview

Introduction to Library Research in Public Health

For research in public health, you will be looking for journal articles using the databases (linked below) PubMed/Medline, which is the largest biomedical research database worldwide, and CINAHL, which indexes journals and other information sources in allied health areas, and will include useful information for public health. Sources for health statistics are also linked below.

Frequently Used Databases

PubMed This link opens in a new window
Largest biomedical research database worldwide. Usually the best place to begin literature searches for information in public health and health sciences.
PubMed indexes over 4,000 biomedical, nursing, dentistry and related journals, with over 21 million citations in MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE and related databases. PubMed is produced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and provides links between article citations and relevant data in other NCBI ENTREZ databases, including Nucleotide and Protein Sequences, Protein Structures, Complete Genomes, Taxonomy, and others.

Proximity searching is available, which allows you to find terms within specified distances from each other.

Includes journal literature, 1950-present; selected online books. This version uses Outside Tool to link to resources at U-M Flint.

CoCites, "a citation-based method for searching scientific literature," is a Chrome- and Firefox-compatible browser plugin you can use with PubMed.
CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new window
CINAHL will also be useful when seeking information in the area of public health; it is a comprehensive index focused on nursing and allied health.
1937-present. Covers nursing, biomedicine, health sciences librarianship, alternative/complementary medicine, consumer health, and 17 allied health disciplines. Includes journal articles, evidence-based care sheets, health care books, nursing dissertations, selected conference proceedings, standards of practice, educational software, audiovisuals, and book chapters.
Short video tutorials on using CINAHL
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Nationwide data on health indices by county. Includes statistics & rankings on mortality & morbidity, health behaviors, clinical care, social & economic factors, and physical environment.
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report
Statistics relating to health, disease, & mortality, from the Centers for Disease Control, updated weekly.
Publications from 1982-present.
PsycINFO This link opens in a new window
1887-present. Includes journals, books, book chapters, technical reports, & dissertations in psychology. Can be searched together with PsycARTICLES.
Short video tutorials on using PsycINFO
Web of Science: All Databases This link opens in a new window
Provides cross-search of multiple Web of Science databases. Mobile app available.
[User's guide]
Includes:
- Web of Science Core Collection (1900-present)
- BIOSIS Previews (1926-present)
- Current Contents Connect (1998-present)
- Data Citation Index (1900-present)
- KCI-Korean Journal Database (1980-present)
- MEDLINE (1950-present)
- Russian Science Citation Index (2005-present)
- SciELO Citation Index (2002-present)
- Zoological Record (1864-present)
- Journal Citation Reports (1997-present) upper right under Products