A Survey of Web Tools for Searching Biomedical Literature, Coursework Example

Using the PubMed database to identify specific references for scientific and educational purposes is an important step for users to take to identify resources of value and significance. Specifically, PubMed provides several search methods and enables the user to identify articles regarding highly specific subject areas to meet specific needs, many of which are highly scientific and technical in nature. The database is relatively simple to use and provides many resources returned through specialized searches and queries to derive information to suit a specific purpose. This type of database is utilized to support scientific knowledge for a variety of purposes, such as research and education (Lu, 2011). Therefore, it must be evaluated under these conditions and examined to ensure that provides the proper message and focus for the intended audience (Lu, 2011).

The MedlinePlus database is targeted for a different type of audience, the consumer, who may be seeking casual information regarding a health issue that does not require a high level of scientific background and focus (MedlinePlus, 2013). This is an important advantage because not all databases are designed for the same purpose and require further evaluation in order to achieve the intended results (Hebda & Czar, 2013). Most importantly, scientific databases such as MedlinePlus should be taken for what they are worth in that they provide important and factual information designed for the consumer target market. In this context, MedlinePlus is a reliable consumer-based website that has been created by the government in order to provide accurate yet general health information to the intended audience. These resources suit specific purposes, yet they also demonstrate a commitment to consolidating information in a manner that is user friendly and form which the appropriate information may be taken and applied to a variety of situations to ensure that the research process is effective and timely for the user’s intended focus and purpose.

References

Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses & healthcare professionals (5 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Lu, Z. (2011). PubMed and beyond: A survey of web tools for searching biomedical literature. Database, 2011. doi:10.1093/database/baq036

MedlinePlus (2013, November 13). About MedlinePlus. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aboutmedlineplus.html