Medical Terminology

Books - to find broad information on a topic, or the history of a given topic, try the book collection. This information may not the most up to date, but should give you a good sense of the "big picture." To look up books on a given topic, go to the library catalog:

http://cmars.cwmars.org/search~S38/

Once you're in the library catalog depending on your topic, try keyword searches like:

bipolar disorder
schizophrenia
down syndrome

Remember, if you do locate a book which contains good information on your topic, see if there are bibliographies in the book, which list other sources like journal articles.

Periodical Indexes/Databases - to find the most current information on a topic, try journal or newspaper articles. In order to locate them, you must use an index. Just like in the back of a book there is an index which tells you what page to look at in the book, there are indexes to journals and newspapers which tell you which issue and page to look at in the journal. These indexes used to be just available in print but are now available online as well. Some online indexes which you should use in your work would be:

Health Reference Center (a subject specialized index)
HealthSource: Nursing/Academic Edition (subject specialized)
Expanded Academic ASAP (a general periodical index)
Academic Search Elite (again, a general periodical index)

These are all available through the library's databases page:

http://www.mwcc.mass.edu/library/login

Just select the appropriate access - either on-campus (from anywhere at MWCC) or off-campus (if you're working from home), then find these online indexes in the alphabetical database listing.

Once in these databases, try keyword searches such as:

ADHD and diagnosis
bulimia and causes
alzheimers and treatment

Websites - To supplement your investigation, but not to substitute for information you find in journals and books.

This page is maintained by the MWCC Library.
This page last updated 9/19/03 .