Implications for Effecting System Change, GCSE Coursework Example

Introduction

Both PubMed and MedlinePlus offer information regarding similar topics of interest in different formats. When I used the keyword “diabetes,” PubMed returned close to 500,000 articles regarding diabetes research studies, while MedlinePlus provided a definition of the disease and links to over 5,600 other articles. The two websites are designed to attract different types of audiences, as PubMed is feasible for clinicians, researchers, and students, while MedlinePlus is feasible for use by the general public.

Analysis

Healthcare websites are intended for different purposes and target audiences, and some provide linkages to issues of importance, such as improving patient care quality (Swan, Lang, & McGinley, 2005). For clinicians, electronic resources support their own objectives in administering care to their patients and in utilizing evidence-based approaches to improve the practice environment (DesRoches, Donelan, Buerhaus, & Zhonghe, 2008). Healthcare website utilization supports the demand for different types of information and engages the user in order to acquire new knowledge for application in the healthcare setting or for one’s own use to examine a health issue more closely.

Conclusion

In examining the two websites, I would use both for different reasons. For example, I would use the PubMed website if I had to write a research paper and wanted to obtain scientific studies regarding a given topic that could support my hypothesis. On the other hand, if I wanted general knowledge regarding a disease state or a symptom, I would view the MedlinePlus website as a reference tool in this area, as it provides this type of knowledge and also links to other useful sources. Both websites provide value to readers, but they should be used for different reasons and in support of personal or professional needs.

References

DesRoches, C., Donelan, K., Buerhaus, P., & Zhonghe, L. (2008). Registered nurses’ use of electronic health records: findings from a national survey. The Medscape Journal of Medicine. Retrieved from www.medscape.com.

MedlinePlus (2014). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=diabetes&x=0&y=0

PubMed.gov (2014). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=diabetes

Swan, B.A., Lang, N.M., & McGinley, A.M. (2005). Access to quality health care: links between evidence, nursing language, and informatics. Nursing Economics. Retrieved from www.medscape.com.