Information factsheets
Library service factsheets
The listed factsheets provide up-to-date details of our library services for our institutional members. They are available to download below in PDF format.Abbreviations
Abbreviations and acronyms are commonplace in medicine. The library holds a number of publications which list medical abbreviations but there are also useful web resources which are detailed here.Alternative and complementary medicine
The practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) involves any medical system based on a theory of disease or method of treatment other than the orthodox science of medicine as taught in medical schools. This resource lists some of the printed resources available at the BMA Library but also guides you to useful web resources.Antiquarian bookshops
The bookshops listed in this factsheet are medical antiquarian booksdealers and not general bookshops. In general, twentieth century books are difficult to sell unless they illustrate some important scientific discovery.Authorship guidelines
The uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals are issued periodically by the International Committee of medical journal editors. They are often called the Vancouver Group because they first met informally in Vancouver, British ColumbiaAviation medicine
Aviation medicine is a branch of occupational medicine, and is the medical specialty concerned with the interaction between the aviation environment and human physiology, psychology and pathology.Bibliographical information
Several resources are available either in the library or elsewhere in the BMA building which can be used to check bibliographical information. These can be used to provide lists of books or articles on a subject or to check or complete title information. Additionally, there are now several useful web databases.Biographical information
The BMA library has no primary biographical resources: the archive collects administrative records and the library collects current clinical medical materials. Historical membership records have not been kept and current records are confidential. This factsheet lists web resources of biographical information for doctors and other professions.BMJ obituaries index
Requests to trace obituaries are one of the commonest reference enquiry which BMA members, other health care libraries and members of the public make. This factsheet describes the Library's BMJ obituaries index, who to contact with a query, and alternative sources of biographical information.British Standards Institute
British Standards Institute (BSI) is a nonprofit distributing organisation, independent of government, industry or trade associations whose operating divisions (product certification, quality assurance, standards, testing and training services) are designed to further the use of standards. This factsheet gives information on how to find out about British standards, where to view or buy, the range of BSI publications, and what the BMA library can offer.Charities
The BMA has a charities department which administers the BMA funds which are available to health care staff. This factsheet also lists print and web resources at the BMA Library on charities for doctors.Child health
The BMA library has put together some information on child care which members may find useful for their work and research. This information comprises of recent books which are available from the library, UK journals, where we do not hold the journal the website of the journal is given. Other information included are web resources in the area of child health care, which includes the social and economic aspects of child care and main UK agencies/organisations who are involved with child care.Citation research
Citation research can be used to find articles on a specific subject or to check bibliographical details. This factsheet gives information on the Science citation index and impact factors.Citing electronic resources
This factsheet lists print and web resources at the BMA Library on citing electronic sources for doctors. This is a relatively new area and there is no standard method for citing electronic sources although several standards have been developed.Clinical genetics
This factsheet gives information on print, database and web resources on clinical genetics which are available in the BMA Library. It also gives details of libraries and other organisations.Cycling
Cycling is an activity which, both as a leisure pursuit and as a means of transport, can have many benefits, not only for those who cycle, but for everyone. The Board of Science of the British Medical Association (BMA) has recognised this by publishing a major report on cycling.Disability information
In July 1999 the Disability Rights Commission bill received royal assent and the Disability Rights Commission was set up. It works towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled people, promotes the equalisation of opportunities, takes steps as to encourage good practice and keeps under review the working of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.Donating books to developing countries
Disposal agencies distribute medical publications to institutions or agencies in countries which need them. This factsheet includes print and web resources in the BMA Library for BMA members on disposal agencies and a list of UK agencies which send medical journals and books to developing countries.Drug information
This factsheet gives details of web and print resources in the BMA Library on prescription drugs, plus details of other organisations and libraries.Environmental health
Environmental health includes both the direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation and some biological agents and the effects (often indirect) on health and well-being of the broad physical, psychological, social and aesthetic environment, which include housing, urban development, land use and transport.Ethics
The BMA has a medical ethics department which advises BMA committees on medicoethical issues and offers guidance. This information factsheet lists some of the resources available in the BMA Library or on the web.Evidence based medicine
The practice of evidence based medicine (EBM) is evolving rapidly and it is becoming one of the most important areas for clinicians and health practitioners. The BMJ Publishing Group already publishes several specialist journals and Clinical Evidence. Several British centres for EBM have been established and details can be found through their websites listed in this factsheet.Fertility
Print and web resources on fertility, which in women is the ability to become pregnant and in men it is the ability to make a woman pregnant - are summarised in this factsheet.Fiction writers with medical qualifications
The definition of 'fiction' is stretched a little, for example to include prose compositions before the concept of fiction really settled down. The list does not include medical poets, notably John Keats, or medical Men of Letters. Each name is linked to an extremely brief summary, plus a link to a suitable web site where a good one has been identified.Forms of address
This factsheet lists resources on forms of address to use in correspondence and the correct use of titles and qualificationsFreedom of Information Act
This factsheet looks at the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which covers public bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and also at the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. At the end of the factsheet are a series of links to official websites that provide further information about both of the Acts which came into force in January 2005.Genetically modified food
The term genetically modified is a development of another concept: biotechnology - a word that has been used for about 30 years and describes the process of modifying the genetic material (DNA) in living cells.Health of the elderly
Print and web resources in the BMA library on the health of the elderlyInternational Classification of Diseases
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a structured classification of diseases with associated codes. Its purpose is to allow morbidity and mortality data to be systematically collected from different countries and statistically analysed. It is also used by individual countries to prepare statistical returns, i.e. for the Hospital Episode Statistics. It is published by the World Health Organisation and is currently in its tenth revision (ICD-10)Job vacancies
This factsheet lists some key resources on careers advice and medical job vacancies for health care professionalsMarket research
The BMA library does not systematically collect market research reports because it is a current clinical library. Additionally, market research reports are expensive and often difficult to buy.Medical audiovisual materials
The BMA library has an excellent collection of medical videos, as well as an archival collection of television materials. Materials can be borrowed by members, or viewed by non-members after purchase of a full readers ticket. Some videos in the collection are not available commercially. Many were acquired through the BMA film and video competition and are no longer available for purchase.Medical events
Requests for information about forthcoming conferences are common. This factsheet lists print and web resources on medical events, conferences and seminars.Medical film and footage research
This reference factsheet lists organisations collecting medical footage and lists print and web resources as well as giving medical footage research tips. The BMA library is not able to undertake footage research for non-members.Medical libraries in London
The BMA library is a private library for members of the BMA, its staff and other institutional users. Members of the public who wish to use the library must purchase a daily readers' ticket. There are other biomedical libraries in London, some of which offer free access to members of the public: British Library, Wellcome Institute for the History of and Understanding of Medicine, Westminster Public Library, Kings Fund, Royal Society of Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Surgeons, University College London Clinical Sciences LibraryMedical newspapers
Medical freesheets are popular with health professionals as they summarise clinical information in an attractive and colourful way and have a high news content. They are sustained by advertising which is attracted by the high readership levels. There were many freesheets in the 1970s but only a few have survived. Older issues are often consulted today by lawyers who are researching drug advertisementsMedico-legal information
This fact sheet gives resource information covering two aspects of medico-legal medicine: first, definitions of the legal boundaries within which clinicians are able to practice their profession and, second, medical complaints of professional accountability, liability and litigation.Men's health
This is a guide to resources in this newly emerging specialty: both to book resources available for loan to BMA members, and also to some of the many excellent web resources. The web has proved to be an excellent medium for engaging the interest of men in health issues through its potentially deft use of humour, caricature and interactive designNutrition
Nutrition is the physical and chemical process by which food is converted into body tissue. This factsheet is a guide to print and web resources on nutrition.Occupational health
Print and web resources in the BMA Library for BMA members on occupational health and the Barbour indexOpen access publications and open archives
This factsheet provides an introduction to, and links to further information on, two new methods for publishing articles which have emerged in the area of scientific, technical and medical research in the last few years - open access publishing and open archives. Both involve making freely available on the Internet papers that would traditionally appear in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals.Patient information
This factsheet gives details of print and web materials in the BMA Library on patient groups and patient information.Picture research
Requests for pictures or photographs are common although there is no collection in the BMA library. This reference factsheet lists some web resources and picture agencies.Primary care
Primary health care covers generally the services coordinated by general practitioners (GPs). A series of government documents has meant that it has been growing in importance in recent years.Print and web resources on syndromes
The library has a good collection of reference books on syndromes but, if you cannot find information in these books, then you can refer to the web and organisational resources listed here.Private practice
This factsheet gives information on print and web resources in the BMA Library on private practice, plus details of other organisations and libraries.Public health
Public health medicine is concerned with assessing the needs and trends in health and disease of populations: print and web resources in the BMA Library on public health medicine are discussed in this factsheet.Reference styles
This factsheet describes information on the Harvard system and Vancouver system of referencing, BMJ guidelines for authors, and Instructions to Authors for other medical journalsSports medicine
This factsheet gives information on print and web resources in the BMA Library on sports medicine, plus details of other organisations and libraries.Statistics
Statistical enquiries are commonplace but it is often difficult to find exact information. This factsheet gives details of useful general sources of statistical information available from the BMA Library.The Cochrane library
The Cochrane library is the main output of the Cochrane Collaboration, which produces and updates systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials. The library is updated quarterly and sold by annual subscription on disc, CD-ROM and via the Internet.Travel medicine
This factsheet concentrates on UK resources of advice although some important international sources are also included. Travel medicine is an emerging specialty and a special section includes resources on Economy Class Syndrome which has gained attention recently.Women's health
The term 'women's health' does not describe a specialty but can be used to evaluate the adequacy of any approach to the care of women and the education of healthcare providers. The aim of women's health is the preservation of wellness and prevention of illness in women and also to ensure health information is available for all. This information factsheet gives details of resources on women's health.