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Medical Sciences Library

PHAR 778 Drug Literature Evaluation and Patient Drug Education (Spring 2025)

Medical & Disease Information

The following databases include core medical reference books for patient care as well as textbooks for background information in the basic sciences: biochemistry, histology, microbiology, pathology, and physiology.

Point-of-care resources provide quick access to regularly updated information, guidelines, and evidence-based recommendations. They include concise summaries of a disease or condition, diagnostic algorithms, treatment options, drug information, and patient education handouts.

Clinical practice guidelines are grounded in the latest research and expert consensus and aim to enhance patient outcomes and standardize healthcare practices.

Professional societies and organizations, such as the American College of Cardiology, American Academic of Pediatrics, and the Infectious Disease Society of America, regularly develop and update guidelines to assist healthcare providers in delivering evidence-based care.

The databases listed below search across multiple societies to identify relevant practice guidelines.

  • ECRI Guidelines Trust is a publicly accessible online repository that provides healthcare professionals with reliable, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Developed by ECRI, a nonprofit organization, this resource includes guidelines from various medical organizations and specialty societies.
  • Trip (Turning Research Into Practice) is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find and use high-quality research evidence to support their practice and/or care. Trip indexes guidelines published by societies and organizations.
  • UpToDate Society Guidelines by Specialty includes links to guidelines for each specialty. After entering UpToDate, go to Contents > Topics by Specialty. Then select the specialty of interest and find the Society Guidelines link. This will take you to a list of guidelines organized by topic.
  • US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) publishes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. All recommendations are published on the Task Force’s Web site.

Clinical Practice Guidelines by Topic or Specialty
 

Cardiology American College of Cardiology (ACC) Guidelines and Clinical Documents
Diabetes American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care
Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Guidelines
Infectious Disease Infectious Diseases Society of American (IDSA) Practice Guidelines
OBGYN American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Clinical Practice Guidelines
Oncology National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines
Orthopedics American Academic of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Clinical Practice Guidelines
Psychiatry
(Child & Adolescent)		 American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Clinical Practice Guidelines
Psychiatry
(General)		 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Clinical Practice Guidelines

What is a review article?

A review article provides a comprehensive summary of research on a particular topic by:

  • Evaluating and synthesizing the existing literature, identifying trends, gaps, and emerging themes.
  • Critically analyzing the methodologies and findings of previous studies, offering insights into their strengths and limitations.
  • Presenting a clear and balanced overview of the current state of knowledge, helping to guide future research and inform practice or policy decisions.
  • Serving as valuable resources for researchers, health professionals, and students seeking to understand the breadth and depth of a specific field.

Find Review Articles