Research Guides: Public Health: Research Articles

Core Databases

Medline via PubMed
PubMed comprises over 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. PubMed citations and abstracts include the fields of biomedicine and health, covering portions of the life sciences, behavioral sciences, chemical sciences, and bioengineering. PubMed also provides access to additional relevant web sites and links to the other NCBI molecular biology resources.
Global Health
Global Health indexes publications from around the world. Provides coverage of the following aspects of human health and disease: communicable diseases, tropical diseases, parasitic diseases, human nutrition, community and public health, medicinal and poisonous plants. Language of publication listed in brackets after the title. Dates of coverage: 1910 to present.
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CINAHL Complete
CINAHL indexes over 3,800 journals from the fields of nursing and allied health, with indexing for selected journals back to 1937. Topics covered are related to nursing, physical therapy, health education, social service/healthcare, occupational therapy, and related disciplines. CINAHL also provides access to healthcare books, nursing dissertations, selected conference proceedings, standards of professional practice, educational software and audiovisual materials in nursing. Dates of coverage: 1937 to present.
Scopus
Scopus is a multidisciplinary index of peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Web of Science Core Collection
Web of Science Core Collection is a multidisciplinary citation index that includes scholarly articles, conference proceedings, and books in the biomedical, psychosocial, and arts and humanities. The collections contain Science Citation, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index , Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Book Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index and Current Chemical Reactions index.

Biomedical

Medline via PubMed
PubMed comprises over 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. PubMed citations and abstracts include the fields of biomedicine and health, covering portions of the life sciences, behavioral sciences, chemical sciences, and bioengineering. PubMed also provides access to additional relevant web sites and links to the other NCBI molecular biology resources.
EMBASE: Excerpta Medica 1974 present (updated daily)
EMBASE is a biomedical and pharmaceutical database indexing over 3,500 international journals in the following fields: drug research, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology, clinical and experimental human medicine, health policy and management, public health, occupational health, environmental health, drug dependence and abuse, psychiatry, forensic medicine, and biomedical engineering/instrumentation. There is selective coverage for nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, psychology, and alternative medicine. Dates of coverage: 1974 to present (updated daily)
Cochrane Library (includes: CDSR, DARE, CCTR, HTA, NHSEED, CRG's)
The Cochrane Library provides access to systematic reviews in addition to other sources of reliable information, from other systematic review abstracts, technology assessments, economic evaluations and individual clinical trials. Includes Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(CDSR), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR), NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), and Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA).
Trip Database TRIP (Turning Research Into Practice) brings together the key evidence-based healthcare resources available on the Internet. Eight major categories are searched by the TRIP search engine: Evidence based guidelines, general peer-reviewed journals, query-answering services, specialist peer-reviewed journals, e-textbooks, medical images and patient information leaflets. The Evidence-based category covers 32 major resources including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Clinical Evidence, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness.
Scopus
Scopus is a multidisciplinary index of peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Web of Science Core Collection
Web of Science Core Collection is a multidisciplinary citation index that includes scholarly articles, conference proceedings, and books in the biomedical, psychosocial, and arts and humanities. The collections contain Science Citation, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index , Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Book Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index and Current Chemical Reactions index.

Environment & Toxicology

Medline via PubMed
PubMed comprises over 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. PubMed citations and abstracts include the fields of biomedicine and health, covering portions of the life sciences, behavioral sciences, chemical sciences, and bioengineering. PubMed also provides access to additional relevant web sites and links to the other NCBI molecular biology resources.

You can access the original ToxLine subset of citations, by adding: tox[subset] to you search in PubMed
Agricultural & Environmental Science Database
This database includes AGRICOLA, TOXLINE, ESPM (Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) databases and provides full-text titles from around the world, including scholarly journals, trade and industry journals, magazines, technical reports, conference proceedings, and government publications. This database includes specialized, editorially-curated A&I resources covering such topics as the effects of pollution on people and animals and environmental action and policy responses.
Environment Complete
Environment Complete offers full text and indexing for domestic and international journals and monographs in the areas of agriculture, ecology, energy, environmental studies, and related fields.

For additional resources related to environmental health, check the Environmental Studies guide.

Social & Behavioral

PsycNET (with PsycINFO)
APA PsycNET is an integrated collection of databases from the American Psychological Association. PsycINFO, the most popular database in PsycNET, is a bibliographic index covering core literature in the psychological and behavioral sciences and their related disciplines. PsycBOOKS includes online versions of the APA Handbooks in Psychology Series, as well as other ebooks and online encyclopedias published by APA. PsycTESTS is a source of structured information about psychological tests and measures as well as a repository for the full text of select instruments. PsycTHERAPY provides access to streaming psychotherapy demonstration videos.
To search only a specific database (e.g., PsycINFO) within the PsycNET interface, use the "Select Databases" features at the top of the PsycNET landing page and check (or uncheck) the database(s) that apply.
Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA)
Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) covers journal article literature in health, social services, economics, politics, race relations, and education. It focuses on the practical problems of society and covers both sociology and psychology, with a central focus on social problems, social and psychological issues, health care, and social services.
SocINDEX with Full Text
SocINDEX covers the sociology literature, encompassing all sub-disciplines and closely related areas of study. It indexes scholarly journals, books, monographs, and conference papers.
Sociological Abstracts
Sociological Abstracts represents the core database for sociological scholarship, covering literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. It indexes scholarly journals, dissertations and theses, books, and conference papers and proceedings, and is international in scope.
Communication and Mass Media Complete
Communication and Mass Media Complete indexes and abstracts academic and trade journals in communications and mass media. Full-text is included for some titles. Conference proceedings are also available, including those of the International Communication Association.
Communication Abstracts
Communication Abstracts indexes articles from major journals in communication, mass media, and other related fields.
Education Source with ERIC
Education Source with ERIC provides access to research on all levels of education from early childhood to adult education. The content includes peer reviewed journal articles, ebooks, book reviews, dissertations, conference papers and policy reports on all topics in the realm of education.
AgeLine
AgeLine is a citation source focused on the population aged 50+ and issues of aging. It indexes journals, books, book chapters, reports, dissertations, consumer guides, and educational videos, including content from the health sciences, psychology, sociology, social work, economics, and public policy.

Biostatistics

In addition to core biomedical and health databases, biostatistical and computational methods can also be found in the math and engineering databases listed below.

Engineering Village (Formerly Compendex)
Engineering Village is a specialized discovery platform where researchers can effectively search multiple engineering databases all in one place.
MathSciNet via EBSCOhost
MathSciNet via EBSCOhost indexes the reviews, abstracts and bibliographic information of MathSciNet. The collection includes full text access to journals in mathematics.
Project Euclid
Project Euclid is a publishing collective and a discovery portal for journals and conference proceedings in mathematics, statistics, and computer science disciplines.
ACM Digital Library
ACM Digital Library provides access to the the publications of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) publication including journals, conference proceedings, technical magazines, newsletters, and books. ACM publications cover topics relevant to theoretical, computational, and experimental work in computer science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. Users will discover academic literature related to algorithms, computational methods, intelligent systems, security and privacy, as well as other disciplines.
Web of Science Core Collection
Web of Science Core Collection is a multidisciplinary citation index that includes scholarly articles, conference proceedings, and books in the biomedical, psychosocial, and arts and humanities. The collections contain Science Citation, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index , Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Book Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index and Current Chemical Reactions index.

Public Policy, Business & Economics

PAIS International
PAIS International contains journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies for public affairs, public and social policies, and international relations.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of the international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, and public administration.
EconLit
EconLit is published by the American Economic Association and indexes and abstracts a wide range of economics-related literature. An expanded version of the Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) indexes of journals, books, and dissertations, EconLit covers both economic theory and application. Coverage dates: 1969 to present.
ABI/INFORM
ABI/INFORM features full-text journals, dissertations, working papers, key business, and economics periodicals. Researchers can locate country- and industry-focused reports, and its international focus provides a picture of companies and business trends around the world.
Business Source Complete
Business Source Complete is a full text database of articles from popular, scholarly, and trade publications. Subjects covered include management, economics, finance, accounting, international business. Dates of coverage: 1886 to present.
Health Policy Reference Center
Health Policy Reference Center contains full-text coverage of information relevant to many areas integral to health policy including, but not limited to: Health Care Access & Delivery, Health Care Administration, Health Care Financing & Economics, Health Care Planning, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Health Law, Health Services Research, Long Term Care, Maternal & Child Health, Medical & Health Care Ethics, Public Health, and Social Medicine.
Policy File
Policy FIle offers access to U.S. foreign and domestic policy papers and gray literature, with abstracts and links to timely reports, papers, and documents from think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes, advocacy groups, agencies, and other entities.

Bioethics

Philosopher's Index
Philosopher's Index contains citations and abstracts of scholarly research in all areas of philosophy and related fields. Included are information about journal articles, books, book chapters such as contributions to anthologies, and book reviews. The publication dates covered are from 1940 to present, and the full text of items is often available.
PhilPapers: Philosophical Research Online
PhilPapers is a comprehensive index and bibliography of philosophy maintained by the community of philosophers. It monitors all sources of research content in philosophy, including journals, books, open access archives, and personal pages maintained by academics. It also hosts the largest open access archive in philosophy.

PhilSci-Archive
An electronic archive for preprints in the philosophy of science, offered as a free service.
EthxWeb
contains journal articles, book chapters, bills, laws, court decisions, reports, books, audiovisuals, and news articles relating to bioethics and professional ethics covering 1974-2009

Law Journal Library
Law Journal Library is a collection of more than 1,250 law and law-related periodicals. Coverage is from the first issue published for all periodicals and goes through the most current issue allowed.
SocINDEX with Full Text
SocINDEX covers the sociology literature, encompassing all sub-disciplines and closely related areas of study. It indexes scholarly journals, books, monographs, and conference papers.
Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA)
Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) covers journal article literature in health, social services, economics, politics, race relations, and education. It focuses on the practical problems of society and covers both sociology and psychology, with a central focus on social problems, social and psychological issues, health care, and social services.
Health Policy Reference Center
Health Policy Reference Center contains full-text coverage of information relevant to many areas integral to health policy including, but not limited to: Health Care Access & Delivery, Health Care Administration, Health Care Financing & Economics, Health Care Planning, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Health Law, Health Services Research, Long Term Care, Maternal & Child Health, Medical & Health Care Ethics, Public Health, and Social Medicine.

Evidence Syntheses

Health Systems Evidence
Continuously updated repository of syntheses of research evidence about governance, financial and delivery arrangements within health systems, and about implementation strategies that can support change in health systems
Social Systems Evidence
Continuously updated repository of syntheses of research evidence about the programs, services and products available in a broad range of government sectors and program areas (e.g., climate action, community and social services, economic development and growth, education, environmental conservation, education, housing and transportation)
Evidence Aid
Curated collections of evidence that concern humanitarian crises and emergencies.
Health Evidence
Quality-rated reviews on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of public health interventions, including cost data.
Evidence Hub (International Initiative for Impact Evaluation)
Repository of rigorous evidence on what works in international development, consisting of rigorous studies and synthesis of studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries. 3ie also creates Evidence Gap Maps, which can indicate where more evidence is needed and also prevent redundancy.
Reproductive Health Library (WHO)
Curated collection of high-quality evidence in reproductive health

Cochrane Library (includes: CDSR, DARE, CCTR, HTA, NHSEED, CRG's)
The Cochrane Library provides access to systematic reviews in addition to other sources of reliable information, from other systematic review abstracts, technology assessments, economic evaluations and individual clinical trials. Includes Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(CDSR), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR), NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), and Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA).

Non-English/Regional

Global Index Medicus
Focus is on publications from and about LMICs. Data is pulled from a variety of resources including regional indexes: African Index Medicus (AIM), Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature (LILACS), Index Medicus for South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR), Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) and Western Pacific Region Index Medicus (WPRIM).

SciELO: Scientific Electronic Library Online
Contains about 500 journals and nearly 150,000 articles published in Latin America, Caribbean countries, Portugal and Spain related to the sciences. Most of the titles are open access. Note that there is both a Spanish and English version.
Dialnet
Dialnet indexes scholarship primarily from the Hispanic world in the form of articles, dissertations, book reviews, and conference proceedings, with a primary emphasis on the humanities, social sciences, and law, as well as publications in the pure and applied sciences. The resource provides links to open-access full-text content when available.
Cairn.info
Cairn.info provides full-text access to research in the humanities and social sciences from French, Belgian, and Swiss publishers. Coverage includes monographs (eBooks), periodicals, and conference proceedings, with some abstracts and journal articles in English.
International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS)
The International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) covers a broad range of interdisciplinary social sciences literature in over 100 languages and countries, with a focus on international research. It provides bibliographic references to journal articles and select books, book chapters, and book reviews dating back to 1951.
OpenEdition
OpenEdition provides access to mainly French-language monographs, journals, and other resources in the humanities and social sciences with four different platforms: OpenEdition (eBooks), Revues.org (journals), Hypothèses (scholarly blogs), and Calenda (announcements for conferences, scholarships, etc., primarily in France). The database also includes publications in English, Spanish, and other languages.
KCI-Korean Journal Database
Provides a comprehensive snapshot of the most influential regional content from researchers in South Korea, including citation data.

Full-text Search

Most databases search only the title, abstract, and some descriptors added by the database or authors. In many cases, especially when looking for detailed methods, a search of the full-text of an article is best. The following resources may not comprehensive in scope, but do allow full-text searching and may be a good complement to a search of traditional databases.

Google Scholar
Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites. To find the full-text through NYU, look for the "GetIt@NYU" button.

PubMed Central (PMC)
Repository of full-text articles funded by many federal agencies including NIH.

ScienceDirect
ScienceDirect is a portal for scholarship published in the sciences, engineering, and technology disciplines.
Sociological Abstracts
Sociological Abstracts represents the core database for sociological scholarship, covering literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. It indexes scholarly journals, dissertations and theses, books, and conference papers and proceedings, and is international in scope.
Wiley Online Library
A multidisciplinary collection of online resources covering life, health and physical sciences, social science, and the humanities, Wiley Online Library offers integrated access to a wide range of articles, journals, books, and reference works, as well as Blackwell Reference content, and laboratory protocols and databases.
SpringerLink
SpringerLink provides access to journal articles, books, and reference works in the biomedical sciences, life sciences, and computer sciences.

Public Health

Finding full text

Some examples: