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On 16 May 2002 David Dillard wrote:
>"Similarly, software deficient and challenged web based free versions of
>databases like PubMed, as compared to database services like First Search
>of OCLC or OVID or SilverPlatter or DIALOG, now owned by Thompson's of
>Canada, are of no comparison in their ability to find information in a
>database. Furthermore, other databases besides Medline need to be checked
>to insure a more complete list of material on a subject or in this case
>by an author and these additional databases may be found only in
>commercial database searching services like those mentioned above.
>Besides Medline, databases like Sports Discus, CINAHL (Combined Index to
>Nursing and Allied Health), Health Star (OVID has the only up to date
>version of this), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PreMedline
>may need to be checked depending on the topic and this is by no means the
>complete list of possible databases for medical or biomechanics resources.
>Check this website for a list of databases that are available in the
>Dialog searching service alone in the field of medicine.
>"Databases by Subject Category:
>"Science - Medicine & Biosciences
>"http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bls0019.html#SB0019
...
>"I hope that this helps to clarify the picture regarding the publication
>record of Mel Siff and also explains a bit about the difference between
>some free databases on the web versus the commercial database products
>some of which are provided for those affiliated with colleges and
>universities by those institutions for the use of their members."
Can others offer their views on the value of the various on-line databases
available, particularly versions of Medline, in comparison with PubMed?
I use it regularly via the NLM website
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/).
I had assumed that because PubMed belongs to NLM their site would be the
most
up to date version in existence. While the search engine isn't ideal it is
better than some others out there. Inevitably, the scope of any database
is
limited, but PubMed is free and I find it very fast. It doesn't index all
the journals I need to scan so I also use Ergonomics Abstracts On-Line
where
we have an institutional subscription. If I want to search on other
commercial
services it has to be one our library has a network subscription to or I
have
to ask the librarians to do the search for me.
Also, while the Dialog list David refers us to is very useful, some of the
databases are restricted in scope, such as The Lancet or New Engl J Med.
It's
quicker for me to access one or two major databases than have to search a
range
of more narrowly focused ones.
Regards
Dr Andrew Pinder, PhD, MSc, Eur Erg, MErgS
Ergonomics Section
Health and Safety Laboratory, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK
Email: Andrew.Pinder@hsl.gov.uk
Tel +44 114 289 2594; Fax +44 114 289 2526
HSL home page: http://www.hsl.gov.uk/
HSE home page: http://www.hse.gov.uk/hsehome.htm
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>"Similarly, software deficient and challenged web based free versions of
>databases like PubMed, as compared to database services like First Search
>of OCLC or OVID or SilverPlatter or DIALOG, now owned by Thompson's of
>Canada, are of no comparison in their ability to find information in a
>database. Furthermore, other databases besides Medline need to be checked
>to insure a more complete list of material on a subject or in this case
>by an author and these additional databases may be found only in
>commercial database searching services like those mentioned above.
>Besides Medline, databases like Sports Discus, CINAHL (Combined Index to
>Nursing and Allied Health), Health Star (OVID has the only up to date
>version of this), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PreMedline
>may need to be checked depending on the topic and this is by no means the
>complete list of possible databases for medical or biomechanics resources.
>Check this website for a list of databases that are available in the
>Dialog searching service alone in the field of medicine.
>"Databases by Subject Category:
>"Science - Medicine & Biosciences
>"http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bls0019.html#SB0019
...
>"I hope that this helps to clarify the picture regarding the publication
>record of Mel Siff and also explains a bit about the difference between
>some free databases on the web versus the commercial database products
>some of which are provided for those affiliated with colleges and
>universities by those institutions for the use of their members."
Can others offer their views on the value of the various on-line databases
available, particularly versions of Medline, in comparison with PubMed?
I use it regularly via the NLM website
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/).
I had assumed that because PubMed belongs to NLM their site would be the
most
up to date version in existence. While the search engine isn't ideal it is
better than some others out there. Inevitably, the scope of any database
is
limited, but PubMed is free and I find it very fast. It doesn't index all
the journals I need to scan so I also use Ergonomics Abstracts On-Line
where
we have an institutional subscription. If I want to search on other
commercial
services it has to be one our library has a network subscription to or I
have
to ask the librarians to do the search for me.
Also, while the Dialog list David refers us to is very useful, some of the
databases are restricted in scope, such as The Lancet or New Engl J Med.
It's
quicker for me to access one or two major databases than have to search a
range
of more narrowly focused ones.
Regards
Dr Andrew Pinder, PhD, MSc, Eur Erg, MErgS
Ergonomics Section
Health and Safety Laboratory, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK
Email: Andrew.Pinder@hsl.gov.uk
Tel +44 114 289 2594; Fax +44 114 289 2526
HSL home page: http://www.hsl.gov.uk/
HSE home page: http://www.hse.gov.uk/hsehome.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe send SIGNOFF BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
For information and archives: http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-l
---------------------------------------------------------------