Research Guide to Respiratory Health Statistics

1. Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to assist faculty, students, and staff of the University of Chicago find respiratory health statistics. This guide is not meant to be exhaustive but to highlight key resources for locating information on this topic.

2. Sources of Information

2.1 Book Resources

For electronic access to books, try searching the MD Consult database. You can search within an individual textbook, or run a search across ~40 textbooks simultaneously for your topic.

Use the Library catalog to locate relevant print and electronic books in the University Library.

Try to identify general texts on your topic and you should be able to find the data you need. Excellent data is buried within textbooks; just because a textbook has not been labeled in the catalog as a statistical resource does not mean that important numerical data is not included within the work. You will need to browse textbook and textbook chapters for tables and graphs on your topic in order to retrieve desired information.

Subject headings in the catalog often do not include terms like statistics unless the book only reports summary data, like in a survey. Instead, browse or search the catalog using broad and narrow subject terms related to diabetes. Catalog tip: use the "*" wildcard to search for variations of your root term. For example child* to search for child or children or children's. You can then combine these subject terms with the type of data you are interested in. For example child* and asthma*.

Asthma
Bronchitis
Chest - Diseases
Larynx
Lung Neoplasms
Lung Diseases
Lungs -- Diseases
Lungs -- Dust diseases
Nose
Paranasal Sinuses
Pneumonia
Pulmonary
Respiratory Organs
Respiratory Organs -- Diseases
Respiratory System
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Smoking
Trachea
Tuberculosis

2.2 Journals

MEDLINE
There are two versions of the the Medline database available.
Medline on OVID and PubMed.

MEDLINE is the National Library of Medicine's premier database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences. MEDLINE contains bibliographic citations and abstracts from more than 4,000 biomedical journals. The file contains over 11 million citations dating back to 1966.

The Print version of this database is known as Index Medicus. Print volumes from 1879-present are available in the Crerar Library Reference Collection at Z6660.I4.

Documentation on how to search Medline on the OVID.

Documentation on how to search PubMed.

Healthy People 2010 Information Access Project : Respiratory Diseases
The purpose of this site is to make information and evidence-based strategies related to the Healthy People 2010 objectives easier to find. The National Library of Medicine and the Public Health Foundation staff have worked together to develop pre-formulated search strategies (search run on PubMed) for selected Healthy People 2010 focus areas.

• Objective 24-6 -Increase the proportion of persons with asthma who receive formal patient education, including information about community and self-help resources, as an essential part of the management of their condition.
• Objective 24-7 - Increase the proportion of persons with asthma who receive appropriate asthma care according to the NAEPP Guidelines. [Focus on written asthma management plans from health care providers (24-7a) and patient education to recognize and respond to early signs and symptoms .(24-7c)]
• Objective 24-8 - Establish in at least 25 States a surveillance system for tracking asthma death, illness, disability, impact of occupational and environmental factors on asthma, access to medical care, and asthma management.

2.3 Internet Resources

Sites were selected based upon the authority and/or reputation of the issuing body in addition to the quality and organization of the website. Federal organizations, medical associations, and private organizations are included.

2.4 Other data sources

Statistical Universe

Major tool for statistical research. Covers data from U.S. federal and state governments; university research centers, private associations and organizations, and independent research groups; and international and intergovernmental organizations. Records include abstracts, with full text of selected U.S. federal and state publications available from as early as 1995.

Statistical Universe is the online equivalent of the following resources available in print. You will need to consult the print version in order to conduct historical research.

American statistics index (ASI)
Reading Rm, floor 1 Regenstein Z1223.Z7A51 (1973-)
Index to international statistics (IIS)
Reading Rm, floor 1 Regenstein (1983-)
Statistical Abstract of the United States
At multiple locations. Please check holdings. HA202.A2 (1878-)
Statistical reference index (SRI)
Reading Rm, floor 1 Regenstein Z7554.U5S71(1980-)

UpToDate

UpToDate is a practical clinical reference designed to provide instant access to the information you need. It is comprised of thousands of original topic reviews written by a recognized faculty of experts who each address a specific clinical issue and provide detailed recommendations. UpToDate performs a continuous review of over 270 journals and other resources. Due to licensing restrictions, use of this resource is only available onsite at the University of Chicago campus and hospitals.