Social Work Library Tutorial: Information Literacy Competencies for Social Workers

Selected Evidence-Based Web Sites, Listed in Alphabetical Order

AgeLine
http://www.aarp.org/research/ageline/

AARP provides detailed summaries of more than 90,000 publications
about aging and the 50+ population

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)
http://www.ahrq.gov/

This government organization's mission is "to improve the quality, safety,
efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans," all of which
are important components of evidence-based mental health. The site offers
links to evidence-based practice reports and reviews as well as clinical
practice guidelines.

Bandolier:
Evidence Based Thinking about Health Care
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/

Bandolier is a UK (United Kingdom)-based website with links to a monthly
evidence-based journal, a glossary of EBM (evidence-based medicine) terms,
and a knowledge library of varied topics excerpted from systematic reviews,
meta-analyses, randomized trials, and high quality observational studies.

Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
(University Health Network):
http://www.cebm.utoronto.ca/

A companion site to the well-known David Sackett book, Evidence-based
Medicine: How to practice and teach EBM. The website features EBM resources
for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as continuing education
materials for health care professionals.

The Centre for Evidence Based Social Services
http://www.ripfa.org.uk/aboutus/archive/

The Centre for Evidence-Based Social Services was established in 1997 and was a
partnership between The Department of Health, a consortium of Social Services
Departments in the South West of England and the University of Exeter (Peninsula
Medical School). The Centre's main aim was to ensure that decisions taken at all levels
in Social Services are informed by trends from good-quality research. CEBSS produced
a wide range of training materials, publications and other resources that were made
available through their website. As this site is now closed, Research in Practice for Adults
is pleased to continue making this material available. In this section of our website, you
can view CEBSS reports, newsletters and research skills training modules.

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/Home.aspx

CRD was established in January 1994, and produces and promotes the use of research based
knowledge in health and social care with databases:

DARE – (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects) contains over 4000 abstracts
of quality assessed and critically appraised systematic reviews. The database focuses
on the effects of interventions used in health and social care.

Complements the Cochrane Reviews by offering a selection of quality assessed
reviews in those subjects where there is currently no Cochrane review.
Brief critical appraisals of previously published reviews of the effects of health care.
Structured abstracts, not full-text
DARE not indexed in PubMed, but original research articles may be
Also available at no charge on the web from University of York www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/

NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) contains over 6000 abstracts of quality
assessed economic evaluations. The database aims to assist decision-makers by
systematically identifying and describing economic evaluations, appraising their quality
and highlighting their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Both DARE and NHS EED include details of abstracts in the process of being written and
these can be 'fast-tracked' on request.

CINAHL
(Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health)
http://searchtools.lib.umich.edu/V?func=native-link&resource=UMI04838

NOTE: subscription is required for database access.

From CINAHL Information Systems, this database features over 1200 nursing, allied
health, consumer health, biomedicine, and health sciences librarianship journals from
1982 to present. Additional citations for selected books, dissertations, and conference
proceedings are included.

Cochrane Library
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/clibintro.htm

NOTE: subscription is required for full-text access.

From the Cochrane Collaboration, this online library is a collection of evidence-based
medicine databases including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of
Abstracts of Reviews and Effectiveness (DARE), Cochrane Controlled Trials Register
(CCTR), NHS (National Health Service-UK) Economic Evaluation Database, Health
Technology Assessment Database, and Cochrane Database of Methodology Reviews
(CDMR). While the review abstracts are searchable free of charge, full-text is only
available by subscription.

Community Toolbox:
Bringing Solutions to Light
http://ctb.ku.edu/

One of the fundamental elements of evidence-based public health is identifying scientific
evidence for policy and decision-making. This site is a treasure trove of information for
understanding health policy development at the community level.

Selected Cultural Competence Websites on this topic:

LGBTHealth Channel: Transgender Health

This site provides information on common medical and mental health concerns of transgender

individuals and addresses the roles and responsibilities of mental health care providers when

working with transgender clients.

http://www.gayhealthchannel.com/transgender/index.shtml#mental

Public Health Seattle & King County: Transgender Health

Addresses the prevalence of mental health issues in this population and identifies the most common

mental and medical health concerns as well as barriers to seeking treatment commonly experienced

by transgender individuals.

http://www.metrokc.gov/health/glbt/transgender.htm#mh

Towards a Transpositive Therapeutic Model: Developing Clinical Sensitivity and Cultural

Competence in the Effective Support of Transsexual and Transgendered Clients

The model is developed by Raj, R. (2002) presents a trans-affirmative model of generic transpositive

therapy in an effort to promote a clinical orientation that recognizes and is responsive to the needs

of an increasingly diverse trans population.

http://www.symposion.com/ijt/ijtvo06no02_04.htm

The Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders

The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association has composed a comprehensive

account of the standards of care that are essential for effective medical and psychological care of

consumers struggling with gender dysphoria. This is an excellent resource for service providers

working with children, adolescents and adults with gender identity disorders.

http://wpath.org/Documents2/socv6.pdf

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

The Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for LGBT Health is a comprehensive account of

the multicultural LGBT community. It is written by and for health care consumers, providers,

researchers, educators, government agencies, schools, clinics, advocates, and health professionals in

all settings

http://www.glma.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/HealthyCompanionDoc3.pdf

Culturally competent care for GLBT people:

Recommendations for health care providers

This site is made available by Public Health of Seattle & King County to present mental health

providers with a sample in-take form for use with GLBT consumers, information on various Gay,

Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender issues, and links to GLBT health related websites.

http://www.metrokc.gov/health/glbt/providers.htm

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Located in New York City, this organization provides a home for the birth, nurture and celebration

of LGTB organizations, institutions and culture; cares for individuals and groups in need; educates

the public and the community; and empowers individuals and groups to achieve their fullest

potential.

http://www.gaycenter.org/

The Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network (LGAIN)

LGAIN works to raise awareness about the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender

(LGBT) older adults and the unique barriers they encounter in gaining access to housing, healthcare,

long-term care and other needed services. LGAIN seeks to foster professional development,

multidisciplinary research and wide-ranging dialogue on LGBT issues in the field of aging through

publications, conferences, and cosponsored events. This sites also has links to advancing a new

standard of professionalism in aging, with diversity and cultural competence at its core

http://www.asaging.org/lgain/

Growing Pains: The Culture of Sexual Minority People with Major Mental Illness:

Mental health services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals needed

An issue of NEW YORK CITYVOICES (April/June 2003) that discusses the issues faced by the

sexual minority culture with major mental illness in New York City.

http://www.newyorkcityvoices.org/2003aprjun/20030606.html

New data on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Mental Health:

New Findings Overturn Previous Beliefs

This paper by Tori Deangelis uses the results of several breakthrough studies to demonstrate that

the social stigma felt by LGB people has important mental health consequences. Researchers say

these studies demonstrate the need for better, more tailored psychological treatment for lesbian, gay

and bisexual (LGB) people

http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/newdata.html

Black C.A.R.E. (Community AIDS Research and Education)

Black C.A.R.E. has a long history of education, research, advocacy and health care policy

development in the Black community. This site provides many resources and links to information

on ethnic minority, LGBT and HIV-related health issues, with an emphasis on scientific literature

and research.

http://web.stat.ucla.edu/cochran/blackcare/blackcare.html

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

HIV Prevention Program

Gay and Lesbian Health Report

This is a report on the health needs of the lesbian and gay community in New York City that

addresses and reflects current knowledge on some of the most significant health issues for these

communities. It concludes with a number of recommendations on public health actions that could

improve health status and access for lesbians and gay men.

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/ah/glreport.html#mental.html

Mind: For Better Mental Health

Web-Site based in England

This website contains universal information on gay, lesbian, and bisexual mental health. Mind is the

leading mental health organization in England and Wales. Its mission is to create a better life for

everyone with experience of mental distress by challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion,

influencing policy through campaigning and education, and inspiring the development of quality

services which reflect expressed need and diversity. Mind also provides useful information on ethnic

communities.

http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Diversity/

Office of Women’s Health

The Institute of Medicine released a report, "Lesbian Health, Current Assessment and Directions for

the Future" in January 1999. The report identified several reasons for directing attention to the study

of lesbian health issues: to gain knowledge to improve the health status of lesbian women, to

confirm beliefs and counter misconceptions about the health risks of lesbians, and to identify health

risks for which lesbians are at risk or tend to be at greater risk than heterosexual women or women

in general. The website below contains information from the IOM report.

http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/factsheets/Lesbian.htm

National Lesbian Health Organization Promoting Lesbian Health through Research,

Advocacy, Education & Direct Services

Founded in 1990, the Mautner Project is the only national organization dedicated to lesbians with

cancer, their partners and caregivers. The NLHO’s mission is to improve the health and well-being

of women who partner with women (WPW) and their families by promoting lesbian/WPW health

through research, advocacy, and activism. This site is intended to educate service providers of the

diversity within the Lesbian community, the cultural competency necessary to adequately serve this

group, and the factors that influence access to health care among lesbians/WPW.

http://www.mautnerproject.org/programs_and_services/RTB/index.html

Ten Things Lesbians Should Discuss With Their Health Care Providers

A survey of members of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) documented the top10

health care concerns lesbians should include in discussions with their physicians or other health care

providers.

http://www.glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=691

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)

GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to

national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Their mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease,

help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the

prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this

mission, they prioritize fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and

lesbians.

http://www.gmhc.org

Individual Practice With Gay Men

This article illustrates that there is no one typical kind of gay man nor one typical presenting

problem for gay men seeking social or psychological services. This chapter summarizes the variety of

issues (beyond the most commonly discussed issue of HIV/AIDS), dynamics and techniques

required to work effectively with adult gay men at different points in their development and life

cycles.

http://www.gaypsychotherapy.com/MALLON.htm

Bisexual Mental Health by Lizz Kopecny

This article explores bisexuals and homosexuals as separate groups, which is rarely done in research

projects. As a result, the researchers have been able to tease out some of the subtle differences

between the bisexuals and gays/lesbians. The findings from the research will provide direction for

health care providers and administrators in addressing issues that are specific to bi-sexual

individuals.

http://www.bi.org.au/community/activate/mentalhealth.htm

Transgender Identity Affirmation and Mental Health

This paper by Larry Nuttbrock, Ph.D; Andrew Rosenblum, Ph.D and Rosalyne Blumenstein, MSW

formulates a social psychological perspective for the mental health functioning of transgender

persons. It is asserted that affective symptomatology in this population is significantly affected by

the extent to which transgender identity is successfully incorporated in social roles and relationships.

The broad construct of transgender identity affirmation is defined, and the importance of affirmation of

identity is posited to be crucial for emotional well-being.

http://www.symposion.com/ijt/ijtvo06no04_03.htm

health care of recent immigrants to Seattle or the US, many of whom are refugees fleeing war-torn

parts of the world. The objective is to make information about culture, language, health, illness and

community resources directly accessible to health care providers who see patients from different

ethnic groups. The Clinical Topics Index lists various physical and mental health subject matter.

http://ethnomed.org/

ERIC
(Educational Resources Information Center)
http://www.eric.ed.gov/

ERIC is a national information system funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute
of Education Sciences to provide access to education literature, including evidence-based
school health resources.

The European Observatory on
Health Systems and Policies
http://www.euro.who.int/observatory

The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies supports and promotes evidence-
based health policy-making for health care systems in Europe. The Observatory is a partnership
between the WHO Regional Office for Europe; the Governments of Finland, Greece, Norway,
Spain and Sweden; the European Investment Bank; Open Society Institute; World Bank; London
School of Economics and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Research topics include
health care reform, policy and performance, health insurance, hospitals, mental health policy,
pharmaceuticals, and primary health care.

Evaluation Center@HSRI
http://tecathsri.org/

A federally funded technical assistance center for mental health system stakeholders including, but not
limited to states, providers, consumers, and evaluators for improving the planning, implementation, and
operation of adult mental health services.

Evidence Based Mental Health Online
http://ebmh.bmjjournals.com/

Persons using EBMH Online may view, reproduce or store copies of articles comprising the journal
provided that the articles are used only for their personal, non-commercial use.

Evidence Network:
The Focus Point for Evidence Based Policy and
Practice Research in the UK (United Kingdom)
http://www.evidencenetwork.org

Focusing on evidence-based, social science research in support of policy and practice, the site
features a searchable database of over 1400 systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and research
syntheses in social policy in addition to over 170 links to a variety of evidence-based web resources.

Free Resources for Social Work Professionals (Advocacy Organizations for Community Development)

Go Local
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/golocal/

A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health:
Find local resources for health-related issues.

Grey Literature Producing Organizations
http://www.nyam.org/library/pages/grey_literature_producing_organizations

This website features the New York Academy of Medicine's list of links to agencies and organizations
publishing grey literature resources, including non-profit organizations and government agencies
and clearinghouses.

Grey Literature Report
http://www.nyam.org/library/pages/grey_literature_report

This report is published quarterly by The New York Academy of Medicine to identify new grey
literature resources as they are added to the academy's collection.

Guide to Community Preventive Services:
Systematic Reviews and Evidence Based
Recommendations
http://www.thecommunityguide.org/

The Guide to Community Preventive Services is being developed by an independent, non-federal
task force appointed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The task
force reviews and evaluates evidence-based materials on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
of community preventive health services. Topics covered include cancer, diabetes, substance abuse,
nutrition, pregnancy, tobacco, and vaccines.

HealthLinks (University of Washington)
Evidence-Based Practice:
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/ebp

A useful list of web resources, organized by category: meta-search engines, systematic reviews
and meta-analyses, evidence guidelines, clinical research critiques, case reports and practice guidelines,
evidence calculators, evidence-based practice statistics, and evidence-based research centers.

HealthWeb: Evidence Based Health Care
http://www.healthweb.org/browse.cfm?subjectid=39

A collaborative project comprised of health sciences libraries in the Greater Midwest Region of the
National Network of Libraries of Medicine and of libraries in the Committee for Institutional Cooperation.
Evidence based health care resources are chosen selectively by librarians, and links include a variety of
websites categorized by associations, databases, electronic journals, practice guidelines, guides to
Internet resources, guides to searching the literature, and tutorials.

Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999) |http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html

Mental Health: Culture, Race, Ethnicity - Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon
General - Executive Summary (SG-CRE-EXEC)
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cre/default.asp

This report is a supplement to the first ever Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, Mental Health: A
Report of the Surgeon General. This supplement covers the four most recognized racial and ethnic minority
groups in the United States.

Mental Health: Culture, Race, Ethnicity - Supplement to Mental Health: Report of the
Surgeon General - (with Executive Summary) (SMA01-3613)
http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SMA-01-3613/sma-01-3613.pdf

This supplement to "Mental Health: Report of the Surgeon General" discusses the barriers to
services that are encountered by persons of certain social and cultural groups.

National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: Evidence Based Practices
http://www.ncmhjj.com/EBP/default.asp

The site offers a list of evidence-based practice resources representing demonstrated effective
interventions for treating youth in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, and juvenile
justice prevention.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts Database
http://www.ncjrs.gov/abstractdb/Search.asp

The NCJRS Abstracts Database contains summaries of the more than 190,000 criminal justice
publications housed in the NCJRS Library collection.

National Guidelines Clearinghouse
http://www.guideline.gov/

Sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), this website provides
clinical practice guidelines of systematically developed statements with recommendations,
strategies, and other information that assists health care providers in making appropriate
health care decisions. The guidelines are produced by a formally recognized society, organization,
or agency and have been developed, reviewed or revised within the last five years.

National Library of Medicine (NLM) Gateway
http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/

From the National Library of Medicine, this site provides multiple database coverage: MEDLINE/
PubMed (journal articles and features for searching the biomedical literature, including search limits
and filters relevant to searching for best evidence resources), LOCATORplus (books, journals, and
audiovisual material), MEDLINEplus (consumer health), ClinicalTrial.gov, DIRLINE (directories of
health organizations), Meeting Abstracts, HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress),
OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man), and HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Bank). The
NLM Gateway facilitates subject searching of multiple NLM databases at one time.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Model Programs Guide (MPG)
http://www.dsgonline.com/mpg2.5/mpg_index.htm

MPG "is designed to assist practitioners and communities in implementing evidence-based prevention and
intervention programs that can make a difference in the lives of children and communities. The MPG
database of evidence-based programs covers the entire continuum of youth services from prevention
through sanctions to reentry. The MPG can be used to assist juvenile justice practitioners, administrators,
and researchers to enhance accountability, ensure public safety, and reduce recidivism. The MPG is an
easy-to-use tool that offers a database of scientifically-proven programs that address a range of issues,
including substance abuse, mental health, and education programs.” Check out Program Types and
OJJDP DMC Reduction Best Practices Database (Disproportionate Minority Confinement).

SAMHSA'S (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration) National Mental Health Information Center:
Center for Mental Health Services: Evidence-Based
Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services
Toward Recovery
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/
communitysupport/toolkits/

This government website offers six resource kits in support of evidence-based practices in mental health.
The topics covered are Illness Management and Recovery, Medication Management Approaches in Psychiatry,
Assertive Community Treatment, Family Psychoeducation, Supported Employment, and Co-occurring Disorders: |
Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

SAMHSA'S (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration) National Mental Health Information Center:
Center for Mental Health Services: Evidence-Based
Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services
Toward Recovery:
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/
communitysupport/toolkits/

This government website offers six resource kits in support of evidence-
based practices in mental health. The topics covered are Illness Management
and Recovery, Medication Management Approaches in Psychiatry, Assertive
Community Treatment, Family Psychoeducation, Supported Employment, and
Co-occurring Disorders: Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/default.asp

Social Care Online provides the UK's most complete range of information and research on all aspects of
social care - for free. With new content added daily by SCIE's experienced information professionals,
you can find information about all aspects of social care, from fostering, to mental health, to human
resources and much, much more. You can also have information delivered to your desktop - find out
more about email alerts and RSS feeds.

TRIP Database
http://www.tripdatabase.com/

NOTE: subscription is required for full-text access.

Developed by Jon Brassey in 1997, this database assembles a variety of Internet evidence-based
health care resources. A basic version can be searched free of charge. The enhanced database,
TRIP Plus, includes peer-reviewed journals, e-textbooks, medical images, and patient information
leaflets, and it requires a subscription to access. TRIP Plus is updated monthly.

World Health Organization: Regional Office for Europe: Evidence (Access to WHO's Evidence-Based
Information and Policy
http://www.euro.who.int/InformationSources/Evidence/20010827_1

The website offers links to Evidence and Information for Policy, identifying cost-effectiveness of health
care interventions and to the Health Evidence Network which features a small library of synthesis reports
and links to evidence-based web resources.