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Finding what you need on the
World Wide Web
Informatics Training for
CDC Public Health Advisors
Organized lists of links
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There are official organizations and agencies
associated with most public health issues
In many cases, these agencies have developed
well-organized, filtered sets of links to on-line
resources
See, for example, the CDC Diabetes Home Page
[http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ddt/ddthome.htm]
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Key: finding that first list of links…
Search engines
Both better and worse than library card
catalogues
 Different engines, different results
 Results not necessarily ranked by relevance
 Better engines allow very complex
searches, can search newsgroups as well as
WWW--worth your while to explore
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Caveats about Web searching
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Much of what is useful and on-line is not
accessible via generic Web searches
 Real
databases require specific queries (e.g.,
MedLine, CDC WONDER, Hazdat)
 Some
database services require subscription
and fees (e.g., ToxNet, Nexis)
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Much of what is useful and in print is not
available on-line at all (e.g., most full-text,
peer-reviewed articles)
Web searching caveats (cont’d)
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World Wide Karaoke: everybody’s got a
very cheap printing press
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Appearances can be deceptive
Tips for weighing your “catch”
Use common sense
 Use traditional means, e.g., from JAMA:
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 Authorship (names, affiliations, credentials)
 Attribution (for all references and sources)
 Disclosure (of Web site ownership, sponsorship, etc.)
 Currency (date that content was posted, updated)
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Use knowledge of URL anatomy
Beyond the web
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Newsgroups are wild, chaotic, bizarre, but
sometimes the best source for intense,
timely debate
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Automated mailing lists are often richer and
more focused, but can be time-consuming
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Focused “news feeds” should become
possible soon, allowing automated,
customized information assembly
Web search strategy “pearls”
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Whenever possible, use organized lists of pointers
assembled by authoritative organizations
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Be aware of the strengths and limitations of search
engines; get to know one or two engines well
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Caveat Lector et Viewer
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Don’t forget databases, newsgroups, lists
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Know when to quit, i.e., when to call for help
from a librarian or subject matter expert