Evidence-based research and reliable health information are essential to Public Health response and prevention efforts. The National Library of Medicine (NLM), an institute of the NIH, provides free, online resources and training for evidence-based research and combatting misinformation.
Resources for Public Health
PubMed comprises more than 30 million citations for biomedical literature, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.
NIH Disaster Research Response
This program aims to create a disaster research system consisting of coordinated disaster health research data collection tools and a network of trained researchers. The site includes research tools and protocols, training, and more.
MedlinePlus provides the public with authoritative information on health and wellness. Available in Spanish and English with some content available in other languages.
Journals (Open Access)
Annual Review of Environment & Resources
The Annual Review of Environment and Resources provides authoritative reviews of significant topics within environmental science and engineering, including ecology and conservation science, water and energy resources, atmosphere, oceans, climate change, agriculture and living resources, and human dimensions of resource use and global change.
Source: Annual Reviews
Annual Review of Public Health
The Annual Review of Public Health, covers significant developments in the field of public health, including key developments and issues in epidemiology and biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, social environment and behavior, health services, and public health practice and policy.
Source: Annual Reviews
BMC Public Health is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease and the understanding of all aspects of public health. The journal has a special focus on the social determinants of health, the environmental, behavioral, and occupational correlates of health and disease, and the impact of health policies, practices and interventions on the community.
Source: Springer Nature
BMJ Global Health is an open access, online journal dedicated to publishing high-quality peer-reviewed content relevant to those involved in global health, including policy makers, funders, researchers, clinicians and frontline healthcare workers. BMJ Global Health adheres to the highest possible industry standards concerning publication ethics.
Source: British Medical Journal
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health publishes robust research on the key determinants of health including the social, economic, and physical environment, as well as lifestyle and behaviour. It provides physicians and other frontline health professionals with key information they can apply in daily practice.
Source: British Medical Journal
Current Developments in Nutrition
Current Developments in Nutrition (CDN) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that strives to review, publish, and disseminate high-quality research in nutritional sciences. CDN offers value by providing a broad scope encompassing the breadth of nutrition research.
Source: Oxford University Press
Emerging Infectious Diseases, an open access, peer reviewed journal published monthly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promotes the recognition of new and reemerging infectious diseases around the world and improves the understanding of factors involved in disease emergence, prevention, and elimination. The journal is intended for professionals in infectious diseases and related sciences and welcomes contributions from infectious disease specialists in academia, industry, clinical practice, and public health, and from specialists in economics, social sciences, and other disciplines.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Evolution, Medicine & Public Health
Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health is an open access journal that publishes original, rigorous applications of evolutionary science to issues in medicine and public health. It aims to connect evolutionary biology with the health sciences to produce insights that may reduce suffering and save lives. Because evolutionary biology is a basic science that reaches across many disciplines, this journal is open to contributions on a broad range of topics.
Source: Oxford University Press
Frontiers offers a collection of open access research journals that are community-driven and peer-reviewed. The journals offered cover topics in science, health, engineering, humanities and social sciences, and sustainability.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health
Health Equity is a leading peer-reviewed open access journal that meets the urgent need for authoritative information about health disparities and health equity among vulnerable populations.
Source: Mary Ann Liebert
JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health, and health care. JAMA Health Forum is a member of the JAMA Network, a consortium of peer-reviewed, general medical and specialty publications.
Source: American Medical Association
JAMA Network Open is an international, peer-reviewed, open access, general medical journal that publishes research on clinical care, innovation in health care, health policy, and global health across all health disciplines and countries for clinicians, investigators, and policy makers. JAMA Network Open is a member of the JAMA Network, a consortium of peer-reviewed, general medical and specialty publications.
Source: American Medical Association
The Lancet Global Health delivers essential original research, candid commentary, correspondence, and Commissions, focusing on disadvantaged populations, be they whole economic regions or marginalized groups within otherwise prosperous nations, with a preference for the following topics: reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health; infectious diseases, including neglected tropical diseases; non-communicable diseases; mental health; the global health workforce; health systems; surgery; and health policy.
Source: Elsevier
The Lancet Public Health is a global leader for essential original research in public health practice, outcomes, and policy making worldwide. This journal is committed to tackling the most pressing issues across all aspects of public health and has a strong commitment to using science as an important means to improve health equity and social justice.
Source: Elsevier
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Often called “the voice of CDC,” the MMWR series is the agency’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. MMWR readership predominately consists of physicians, nurses, public health practitioners, epidemiologists and other scientists, researchers, educators, and laboratorians.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Other NNLM Resource Guides related to Public Health
COVID-19 Research
LitCovid is a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus. The articles are updated daily and are further categorized by different research topics and geographic locations for improved access.
PubMed, Clinical Queries, COVID-19 Articles Search:
The Clinical Queries search in PubMed provides a way to quickly locate clinical studies. Clinical Queries retrieves results for two searches: Clinical Studies and COVID-19 Articles. The COVID-19 Articles search is similar to LitCOVID, but includes preprint articles in search results.
Training Opportunities
NNLM Public Health Information Courses
Sign up for one of our webinars or courses on public health information and resources for practitioners and consumers. Sessions are offered synchronously and asynchronously to fit any busy schedule. Many courses are also CHES (Certified Health Education Specialists) and MLA (Medical Library Association) CE eligible.
Click here for a list of NNLM trainings that qualify for Certified Health Education Specialists credit
NPHCO/Public Health Digital Library
The NPHCO's Public Health Digital Library is a fee based service that provides state, local and municipal public health departments with access to e-journals, e-books and databases. Resources in the library focus on evidence-based practice. To learn more about this service, visit the NPHCO/Public Health Digital Library webpage.
Data and Statistics
Local
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Finding Historical Census Data (Florida State University Library Guides)
- City Health Dashboard
- County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
- Rural Data Explorer
National
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Find Health Statistics by Topic
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
- MedlinePlus: Health Topics include “Statistics and Research” category
- State Health Facts (Kaiser Family Foundation)