Looking for general information on signs and symptoms for I-Cell Disease? Need to find recommendations on the role of aspirin in prevention of coronary artery disease? How about normal values or diagnostic significance of AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) levels? All of these questions can be answered quickly and accurately using the robust collection of high-quality knowledge resources on the Clinical Reference page. Learning about these sources will help you know exactly where to look when a particular type of questions arises.

• Watch this video clip for a general overview of what you will find on the Clinical Reference page. 

Note: two sections of the Clinical Reference page will not be covered in this tutorial: evidence-based practice resources and "other useful resources." See below for a brief summary about these sections.

Evidence-based practice resources

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has emerged as a essential component of health care practice. Much has been written about the many aspects of EBM theory and practice.  Evidence-based Medicine is a complex area that is beyond the scope of this introductory module, and is a topic that will be covered in greater depth later in the curriculum. For further information on the basics of EBM and some of the resources used for evidence-based searching, see:

• Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine

• EBP Education Center of Excellence

• Student's Guide to the Medical Literature (site designed for medical students)

Other useful resources

Most of the links in this section of the Clinical Reference page are self-explanatory. Exam Master, the first resource in this section, will be of great interest to you when it comes time to study for the USMLE.

One tool that might not be familiar to you is RefWorks, a web-based bibliographic manager for organizing your literature sources and automating the formatting of in-text citations and bibliographies. It is similar to EndNote or Reference Manager. If you are involved in a research project or planning to publish the results of your research, be sure to make use of this time and labor-saving program. The RefWorks site offers an excellent tutorial and detailed help to get you started. Contact the Health Sciences Library if you want to sign up for a class or would like individualized instruction on RefWorks, EndNote, or RefMan.