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The Latin American Social Medicine database
Jonathan D Eldredge1, Howard Waitzkin, Holly S Buchanan
1The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, MSC09 5100, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA. jeldredge@salud.unm.edu
BMC Public Health
|January 4, 2005
Summary
The Latin American Social Medicine (LASM) database enhances global access to research on social determinants of health. It bridges a gap in understanding by providing trilingual abstracts of LASM literature.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Informatics
- Social Epidemiology
Background:
- Long-standing efforts to link social conditions with population health.
- Limited awareness in English-speaking countries of Latin American Social Medicine (LASM) research.
- The LASM database addresses this knowledge gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel information resource for LASM literature.
- To improve access to research on social determinants of health.
- To augment global understanding of LASM.
Main Methods:
- Public health informatics case study.
- Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the LASM database.
- Trilingual (Spanish, Portuguese, English) structured abstracts.
Main Results:
- The LASM database is accessible globally via the Internet.
- It disseminates crucial information previously confined to professional networks.
- Summarizes classic and contemporary LASM works.
Conclusions:
- The database offers valuable insights into social determinants of health.
- It significantly expands worldwide access to LASM literature.
- Facilitates a broader understanding of health and social conditions.