Excerpt

One component of health information that continues to be at the forefront of health concerns for a wide range of scientists and health professionals, as well as the general public, is toxicology and environmental health information. To improve access to this kind of information, in early 1998, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) began developing an Internet Web site to provide access to the extensive portfolio of toxicology and environmental health databases located on NLM's Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET). This Web site (www.toxnet.nlm.nih.gov) is the topic of this report.

In late 1997, NLM decided to make the TOXNET databases available via an Internet World Wide Web site. During the development phase, NLM requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) conduct a study that would assess the usefulness and effectiveness of the new Web site. The IOM Committee on Internet Access to the NLM's Toxicology and Environmental Health Databases was formed in early 1998. The committee was charged with seeking input from health professionals on their assessment of the Web site and with providing recommendations on the refinements necessary to facilitate searches of the TOXNET Web site by health professionals, scientists, educators, and the general public.

Contents

• Committee on Internet Access to the National Library of Medicine's Toxicology and Environmental Health Databases
• Acknowledgments
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
  • Study Background
  • Input to the Committee
  • Overview of the Report
• 2. Assessment of the Current TOXNET Web Site
  • Selecting a Database
  • Inputting the Search Strategy
  • Displaying the Search Results
  • Modifying the Search
  • Printing or Downloading the Search Results
  • Other Issues
• 3. Improving the TOXNET Web Site
  • Integrating TOXNET into the Overall NLM Web Site
  • Databases
  • Search Interface
  • Educational Components
  • Added Enhancements
• 4. Raising Awareness: Training and Outreach
  • Training
  • Outreach
  • Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Appendixes
  • A Acknowledgments
  • B Search Questions

Support for this project was provided by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. N01-OD-4-2139.

The views presented are those of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Internet Access to the National Library of Medicine's Toxicology and Environmental Health Databases and are not necessarily those of the funding organization.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.