Public Health
Library Orientation
Paul Levett, MSc, MA Ed.
Reference and Instruction Librarian
Himmelfarb Library Website: himmelfarb.gwu.edu
Search
Articles +
Books,
& get a
citation
Quick link
to PubMed
Links to
Databases,
e-journals,
e-texts,
Catalog
Ask us a
question
Links to
public
health
research
guides
Off-Campus/at home
Two ways to get into library resources
• VPN - go to https://vpn.gwu.edu and login with
the NetID username/password you use to get
into Blackboard.
OR
• WRLC - log in with your last name, your
GWid #, select “George Washington”, and click
‘Login’.
VPN Login:
WRLC Login:
Wi-fi on campus
• Gwireless - wi-fi network
• Same login you use for Blackboard
Need help?
• Bring your laptop or tablet computer to Tech
Commons in the Gelman Library, Lower level
IT FAQs
it.gwu.edu
Type in the
GWiz search box
Or
IM chat with an
IT person
Library entrance gate
• Stand behind yellow line and tap your GWID
card
• Open 24/7
Login to Library computers
• Same login you use to get into Blackboard
Printing
To print in the Himmelfarb Library, first add
money to your GWorld card either:
• by credit card on the GWorld card website, or
• put $ bills into the value station on the 1st floor
Printer options
WEPA-BW(Duplex)
WEPA-BW
WEPA-Color(Duplex)
WEPA-Color
Check you have
Normal Margins
1”
Print from your laptop
http://printing.gwu.edu/laptop
Print from your tablet or
smartphone – WEPA app
Open in WEPA Print
Printer kiosks are in the Himmelfarb & Gelman Libraries
Or you can insert
a USB flash
memory stick here
Supplies in the library
• Stapler on copiers
• Scrap paper
• Hole punch
How do I reserve a study room?
Go to the Himmelfarb Library website &
click: Services –Study Room Reservations –
Make a Reservation.
1
2
Room availability schedule
3
What is Peer-Review?
 Peer-Review is the process that a research
article or textbook chapter goes through
before publication.
Subjected to scrutiny by other researchers
“peers” before publication to ensure the highest
levels of academic integrity, accuracy and research
value
How can you tell if it is peer reviewed?
Search box on library website. In the results
Page on the left where it says Refine your
results check Peer Reviewed & click Update.
OR
Check if the Journal is Peer-Reviewed
in Ulrich’s Periodical Directory
http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com/
Look for the refereed symbol
OR
Check the editorial
or peer review
policy – it may be
under guidelines for
authors
How to search a library database:
First identify your keywords
Think PICO
P
I
C
O
Patient or Population
Intervention to be applied
Comparison (if any)
Outcome to be measured
Applying PICO to a Public Health scenario
A group of children come down with measles. The parents
are concerned about the potential health risks of
vaccinations and have decided not to have their children
receive the MMR vaccination. You need to develop an
intervention/education program to increase the likelihood
parents will vaccinate their kids.
P = Population
parents of children with measles
I = Intervention education program
C = Comparison parent group not educated
O = Outcomes
↑ MMR vaccine rate
↓ measles among children
Which databases do I use to search the
medical literature?
Search PubMed
By keywords or MeSH terms
Search Scopus
& sort results by number of times cited
Full-Text links in PubMed
Click ‘Article’ to view it
How to Critique a journal article
 Currency:
How recently was it published?
 Relevance to the question:
Fact vs. opinion. Can the data answer the question?
 Authority:
Primary or secondary data. What are the authors qualifications?
 Accurate:
Critically appraise the scientific validity of the article. See the
research guide titled ‘Critical appraisal of research articles’.
 Coverage:
Does the new knowledge replace or update existing information?
Are there gaps in the evidence, facts, statistics?
Levels of evidence
In PubMed click the
“EBM/Clinical Reviews”
link on the right to get
these higher level
Studies i.e. systematic
reviews & RCT’s
Experimental
Better evidence:
• Stronger methdology
• Less bias
• Controls for comparison
Observational
More articles
Descriptive
http://www.hsl.unc.edu/Services/Tutorials/EBM/Supplements/QuestionSupplement.htm
Research guides exercise
librarydoc.wordpress.com
Statistics
• Himmelfarb Library 3rd floor, Bloedorn
Technology Center, computers have:
– Quantitative analytical software e.g. SAS, SPSS,
STATA, ArcGIS
– Qualitative analytical software: NVIVO
• Books, training manuals, search library catalog
Manage citations using RefWorks
From database search results you
will export selected references to
RefWorks, see the RefWorks
research guide for instructions.
In RefWorks you will file your
references into folders.
Download Write-n-cite
In RefWorks download the Write-N-Cite
tool to your computer.
Refworks Group Code = RWGWUMC
Help with your written assignments
• Where: Himmelfarb Library 1st floor
• When: two weekday evenings during
advertised times
• Schedule your appointment online at:
http://www.gwu.edu/~gwriter/
Good luck!