Library Class and Subject Guides: Health Science: Applied Health Science

Encyclopedias and Background Information

Encyclopedias and dictionaries often ...

provide an overview of the topic
help you to understand the topic
provide additional resources

SAGE Knowledge Contains electronic reference titles from Sage. Users can search and browse the full-text equivalent handbooks, encyclopedias, and other titles.
Gale Ebooks Electronic reference books on a variety of subjects.

Contagious Diseases Sourcebook by Joyce Shannon (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to access

ISBN: 9780780810754

Publication Date: 2010
Dictionary of Health Education by David A. Bedworth; Albert E. Bedworth
Call Number: Reference Collection (Non-circulating)--1st Floor RA440 .D53 2010

ISBN: 9780195342598

Publication Date: 2010
Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health by Sana Loue (Editor); Martha Sajatovic (Editor); Siran Koroukian (Editor); Linda S. Lloyd (Editor); Scott Ober (Editor); Laura Weiss Roberts (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to access

ISBN: 9780387337531

Publication Date: 2007-11-22
Encyclopedia of Global Health by Yawei Zhang (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to access

ISBN: 9781412941860

Publication Date: 2008
Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior by Norman B. Anderson (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to access

ISBN: 9780761923602

Publication Date: 2004
The Gale encyclopedia of environmental health by Jacqueline L. Longe
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to access

ISBN: 9781414498836

Publication Date: 2013
The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health by Brigham Narins
Call Number: Ebook-click on title to access

ISBN: 9781414498959

Publication Date: 2013
The Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health by Laurie J. Fundukian (Editor)
Call Number: Ebook--click on title to acces

ISBN: 9781414498799

Publication Date: 2013
Handbook for Public Health in Social Work by Robert Keefe (Editor); Elaine T. Jurkowski (Editor)
Call Number: Reference Collection (Non-circulating)--1st Floor HV687.5.U5 H36 2013

ISBN: 9780826107428

Publication Date: 2013
International Encyclopedia of Public Health by Kristian Heggenhougen (Editor-In-Chief); Stella R. Quah (Editor-In-Chief)
Call Number: Reference Collection (Non-circulating)--1st Floor RA423 .I68 2008

ISBN: 9780122272257

Publication Date: 2008-09-12
Mental Health Care Issues in America by Michael Shally-Jensen (Editor)
Call Number: Reference Collection (Non-circulating)--1st Floor RC437 .M46 2013

ISBN: 9781610690133

Publication Date: 2013
The Oxford handbook of health economics by Sherry Glied; Peter Smith
Call Number: Ebook-click on title to access

ISBN: 9780191743719

Publication Date: 2011
The State of Health Atlas by Diarmuid O'Donovan
Call Number: Reference Collection (Non-circulating)--1st Floor G1046.E5 O36 2008

ISBN: 9780520254114

Publication Date: 2008

Find Articles

Click here to get step-by-step instructions for how to find articles on a selected topic.

Articles not owned by MSU Memorial Library can be requested from another library by submitting an interlibrary loan request. For information about this service, click here.

Find Books

Watch a YouTube video on finding books in Memorial Library

Click here to get step-by-step instructions for how to find books on a selected topic.

WorldCat Discovery
Provides citations to books and other materials (including those that are out of print) held by libraries worldwide and allows users to request books via Interlibrary Loan.

Books not owned by MSU Memorial Library can be requested from another library by submitting an interlibrary loan request. For information about this service, click here.

Find Statistics and Data

Statistics often provide a concise and effective means to ...

explain a viewpoint
integrate evidence to support an opinion or claim
assist in presenting research data in a logical and easy to understand manner

PolicyMap
PolicyMap is a data and mapping tool used by government agencies, universities, healthcare institutions and nonprofits to solve place-based problems.

Cancer Statistics Center The Cancer Statistics Center website is a comprehensive interactive resource for learning about the cancer burden in the United States. Produced by the American Cancer Society, the website provides detailed statistics on a range of topics including: The estimated numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the current year Current cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates and trends State-level risk factor and screening metrics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The CDC is the major national public health institute of the United States. The CDC website has extensive information about health topics and statistics.
Google Public Data Explorer Data sets and metrics compiled by Google.
HealthData.gov HealthData.gov is a searchable database of government data and statistics from national government agencies like the CMS, CDC, FDA and NIH.
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (University of Wisconsin, Population Health Institute) "The Rankings are based on a model of population health that emphasizes the many factors that, if improved, can help make communities healthier places to live, learn, work and play."
National Historical Geographic Information System "... provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2013."
National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) Data collected by local cancer registries enable public health professionals to understand and address the cancer burden more effectively. CDC provides support for states and territories to maintain registries that provide high-quality data.
National Vital Statistics System Offered through the CDC, a national registry of vital events - births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and fetal deaths.
NCHS Data Briefs From the National Center for Health Statistics, Data Briefs are statistical publications that provide information about current public health topics. Each report takes a complex data subject and summarizes it in text and graphics that provide readers with easily comprehensible information in a compact publication (PDF) and webpage. This list of all Data Briefs that have been released to date is presented in an interactive, searchable, and sortable data tables format.
World Bank | World DataBank Collections of time series data on a variety of topics.

County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Minnesota Ranks counties in Minnesota based on health outcomes and health factors.
Minnesota Center for Health Statistics (MCHS) - Minnesota Department of Health Health statistics for Minnesota on the state and local community level, offered through the Minnesota Department of Health. Includes: collection and analysis of health-related data; design and implementation of public health surveys; coordination of health data collection efforts and the state and local level.
Minnesota Department of Health "The department’s mission is to protect, maintain and improve the health of all Minnesotans. It has about 1,500 employees and an annual budget of approximately $500 million in state , federal and fee-based funds."
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Health The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library is the library that Minnesota legislators use for researching health policies. The Health links page links to other databases of Minnesota local and state statistics and data.
Minnesota State Demographic Center
MN Data Sources for County Health Rankings These data sources provide information about local or community data. These sources provide either unique, local data; more information on demographic breakdowns (e.g., age, sex, race/ethnicity); or data for sub-county geographic units (e.g., cities, zipcodes or school districts).
MN Public Health Data Access Portal Data about public health topics like child health, climate, diseases and conditions, environmental health, health behaviors and risk factors, and healthy homes.
NCHA (Minnesota State University's National College Health Assessment Data) Every semester, the American College Health Association conducts a National College Health Assessment. This survey data is specifically from students here at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Substance Use Minnesota SUMN (Substance Use in Minnesota) provides data on over 100 indicators of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug consumption patterns, consequences, and contributing factors in Minnesota. Data are provided at the county level, regional, and state level, and by demographic group when possible.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (CDC) "The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the nation's premier system of health-related telephone surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services."
Center for Disaease Control and Prevention Data and Statistics A list of data and statistical resources compiled by the CDC.
Demographic and Health Surveys "Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) are nationally-representative household surveys that provide data for a wide range of monitoring and impact evaluation indicators in the areas of population, health, and nutrition."
Global Health Observatory (GHO) Data "... provide data and analyses on global health priorities."
Health Evidence (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario) "Search healthevidence.org for access to 4,260 quality-rated systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions."
Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) "HINTS collects nationally representative data routinely about the American public's use of cancer-related information. The survey: Provides updates on changing patterns, needs, and information opportunities in health Identifies changing communications trends and practices Assesses cancer information access and usage Provides information about how cancer risks are perceived Offers a testbed to researchers to test new theories in health communication"
HealthData.gov "This site is dedicated to making high value health data more accessible to entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy makers in the hopes of better health outcomes for all."
National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics compiles statistical information "to guide actions and policies to improve the health of our people." "Our health statistics allow us to: document the health status of the population and of important subgroups identify disparities in health status and use of health care by race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, region, and other population characteristics describe our experiences with the health care system monitor trends in health status and health care delivery identify health problems support biomedical and health services research provide information for making changes in public policies and programs evaluate the impact of health policies and programs"
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program "he Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute works to provide information on cancer statistics in an effort to reduce the burden of cancer among the U.S. population."
U.S. State Health Facts (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) "State Health Facts is a project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the United States, counties, territories, and other geographies. State Health Facts is comprised of more than 800 health indicators and provides users with the ability to map, rank, trend, and download data. Data come from a variety of public and private sources, including Kaiser Family Foundation reports, public websites, government surveys and reports, and private organizations. Data presented on State Health Facts are updated or added as new data become available; the update schedule varies from indicator to indicator. The availability of older or “archived” data is limited and varies by indicator."
WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) "CDC’s WISQARS™ (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) is an interactive, online database that provides fatal and nonfatal injury, violent death, and cost of injury data from a variety of trusted sources. Researchers, the media, public health professionals, and the public can use WISQARS™ data to learn more about the public health and economic burden associated with unintentional and violence-related injury in the United States."

American College Health Association National College Health Assessment A national-level survey of college students about health, including survey and results, that is conducted every semester (fall and spring).
American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS), through the U.S. Census Bureau, is an ongoing survey that provides vital information on a yearly basis about our nation and its people.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) "The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the nation's premier system of health-related telephone surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services."
Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas - Community Evaluation - Behavioral Surveys Information on behavioral surveys, as well as links to online resources and tools for surveys.
Minnesota Center for Health Statistics Minnesota Student Survey The Minnesota Student Survey is conducted every three years among students in Minnesota public schools. The survey asks questions about activities, experiences and behaviors. Topics covered include tobacco, alcohol and drug use, school climate, physical activity, violence and safety, connections with school and family, health and other topics.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) has monitored the health of the nation since 1957. NHIS data on a broad range of health topics are collected through personal household interviews.
Nurses' Health Studies The Nurses' Health Studies are among the largest prospective investigations into the risk factors for major chronic diseases in women.
School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) The School Health Policies and Practices Study* (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels.
School Health Profiles The School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a system of surveys assessing school health policies and practices in states, large urban school districts, and territories. Profiles surveys are conducted biennially by education and health agencies among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers.
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults, including: injuries and violence, sexual behavior, alcohol and drugs, tobacco, and diet and exercise. YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by CDC and state, territorial, tribal, and local surveys conducted by state, territorial, and local education and health agencies and tribal governments.

ACHA National College Health Assessment A national-level survey and health assessment of college students about health behaviors, including survey and results, that is conducted every semester (fall and spring).
Association for Community Health Improvement Community Health Assessment Toolkit A toolkit for step-by-step community health assessment, offered through the Association for Community Health Improvement.
CDC - Community Health Assessment and Health Improvement Plans CDC resource about community health assessment, including: models, frameworks, and tools; data; stories and examples; and other resources.
Center for Community Health and Development at University of Kansas - Community Tool Box - Community Indicators Information on gathering and using community-level indicators of health assessments, as well as links to online resources for community indicators.
Community Commons Community Health Needs Assessment Toolkit A toolkit about needs assessment offered through the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES)
Healthy Minnesota: Statewide Health Assessment A state-wide health needs assessment through the Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota County-level Indicators for Community Health Assessment A listing of community health indicators across multiple public health categories and from various data sources.
Minnesota Department of Health Local Public Health Assessment and Planning Minnesota Department of Health resource about local community health, including agency assessment and planning, and community assessment and planning. It also includes the results of previous health assessments in Minnesota.
Minnesota Hospital Association Community Health Needs Assessment The Minnesota Hospital Association is comprised of 142 hospitals in Minnesota and are required to give a needs assessment of their community every 3 years. This link contains the hospital needs assessments as well as links to other community resources.
National Library of Medicine - Community Benefit/Community Health Needs Assessment A great resource from the National Library of Medicine that compiles information on needs assessment and community benefits, including: searching for needs assessments; data, tools, and statistics; state and special population resources; legislation and regulations; state resources; articles and documentation; best practices; example community health needs assessments; meetings and webinars; and organizations.
NCHA (Minnesota State University's National College Health Assessment Data) Every semester, the American College Health Association conducts a National College Health Assessment. This survey data is specifically from students here at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Explore Web Resources

American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) "The mission of the American Academy of Health Behavior™ is to serve as the “research home” for health behavior scholars and researchers whose primary commitment is to excellence in research and the application of research to practice to improve the public's health."
American Public Health Association (APHA) "APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the public health profession. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. We are the only organization that influences federal policy, has a 140-plus year perspective and brings together members from all fields of public health."
Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) "The Coalition has as its primary mission the mobilization of the resources of the Health Education Profession in order to expand and improve health education, regardless of the setting."
Global Health Council "As the shared voice of the global health community, Global Health Council (GHC) facilitates critical discussion around global health priorities and advocates for improved investments and policies to advance the global health agenda."
Health Care Education Association (HCEA) "... s a multi-disciplinary professional organization comprised of health care educators who are committed to improving healthcare outcomes through evidence-based patient, family, consumer, community and staff education, resource development and communications."
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) "he mission of NCHEC is to enhance the professional practice of Health Education by promoting and sustaining a credentialed body of Health Education Specialists. To meet this mission, NCHEC certifies health education specialists, promotes professional development, and strengthens professional preparation and practice. Our charge is to develop and administer a national competency-based examination; develop standards for professional preparation; and promote professional development through continuing education for health education professionals."
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) "For more than 60 years, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has served as an independent professional association represented by a diverse membership of nearly 4,000 health education professionals and students throughout the United States and 25 international countries. The organization promotes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, its network of local chapters, and its numerous partnerships with other organizations. SOPHE members work in elementary/secondary schools, universities, voluntary organizations, health care settings, worksites, and local/state/federal government agencies."

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality "The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used."
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same."
GlobalHealth.gov "The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) is part of the HHS Office of the Secretary. OGA promotes the health and well-being of Americans and of the world’s population by advancing HHS’s global strategies and partnerships and working with USG agencies in the coordination of global health policy."
Health.gov "The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion develops and coordinates high impact national disease prevention and health promotion activities. From setting national health objectives and guidelines for various conditions and processes to promoting effective health communication, we’re helping lead the way toward a healthier Nation."
Minnesota Department of Health "The department’s mission is to protect, maintain and improve the health of all Minnesotans. It has about 1,500 employees and an annual budget of approximately $500 million in state , federal and fee-based funds."
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS.gov) "It is the mission of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. We fulfill that mission by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services."
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--Office of Minority Health "The mission of the Office of Minority Health is to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities."
World Health Organization (WHO) "Our primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations’ system. These are our main areas of work: Health systems Promoting health through the life-course Noncommunicable diseases Communicable diseases Corporate services Preparedness, surveillance and response."

Center for Science in the Public Interest "... CSPI carved out a niche as the organized voice of the American public on nutrition, food safety, health and other issues during a boom of consumer and environmental protection awareness in the early 1970s. CSPI has long sought to educate the public, advocate government policies that are consistent with scientific evidence on health and environmental issues, and counter industry’s powerful influence on public opinion and public policies."
Chronic Disease GIS Exchange (CDC) "The Chronic Disease GIS exchange is an on-line forum for public health professionals and community leaders to learn and share techniques for using GIS to enhance chronic disease prevention and treatment."
Darmouth Atlas of Health Care (Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School) "For more than 20 years, the Dartmouth Atlas Project has documented glaring variations in how medical resources are distributed and used in the United States. The project uses Medicare data to provide information and analysis about national, regional, and local markets, as well as hospitals and their affiliated physicians."
Global Health Hub "The Global Health Hub is a volunteer-run site that aims to provide an online gateway to news, commentary and resources related to global health for public health professionals. Our team of volunteers publishes original commentary while curating aggregated content from traditional and non-mainstream sources to provide a dynamic information portal for the global health community."
Global Health Policy (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) "Kaiser is a non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, as well as the U.S. role in global health policy. Unlike grant-making foundations, Kaiser develops and runs its own policy analysis, journalism and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with major news organizations. We serve as a non-partisan source of facts, analysis and journalism for policymakers, the media, the health policy community and the public. Our product is information, always provided free of charge — from the most sophisticated policy research, to basic facts and numbers, to in depth health policy news coverage provided by our news service, KHN, to information young people can use to improve their health or the general public can use to understand the health reform law."
Grey Literature Report in Public Health (New York Academy of Medicine) "The report is a bimonthly publication of The New York Academy of Medicine alerting readers to new grey literature publications in health services research and selected public health topics. The database platform is keyword searchable and serves as an archive for the cataloged reports."
The Guide to Community Preventive Services "The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a free resource to help you choose programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in your community. Systematic reviews are used to answer these questions: Which program and policy interventions have been proven effective? Are there effective interventions that are right for my community? What might effective interventions cost; what is the likely return on investment?"
Health Literacy Studies (Harvard T. H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health "This HSPH Health Literacy website was designed for professionals in health and education who are interested in health literacy. It was the first academic site to provide resources and links in the burgeoning area of health literacy studies and practice."
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) "The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research center at the University of Washington that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world's most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME makes this information freely available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to best improve population health."
International Food Information Council Foundation "... a nutrition and food safety resource for consumers, health professionals, journalists, educators, government officials, and students. We provide important and timely resources on a variety of topics such as weight management, diet (food) and health, food safety, food production, international food issues, and communications."
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force "Created in 1984, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. The Task Force works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications."