Library Guides: Physician Associate Studies Subject Guide: Databases

What is a database?

Databases let you search for journal articles from a large number of different journals at the same time around a certain discipline or subject. Searching databases can save you time finding high-quality literature for assignments, dissertations and research projects.

Learn how to search databases with our literature searching guide, or look at our YouTube channel to find out how to search specific databases.

If you are conducting a systematic review, see our systematic review guide for guidance.

Databases and e-resources

Healthcare databases allow you to track-down journal articles by topic and where possible link you to the whole article if the library owns it in its collection. They offer a more comprehensive search than Hunter. Key databases for Physician Associate Studies include:

Medline (Ovid) - onsite access Onsite access from St George's PCs and library laptops
From US National Library of Medicine. Covers clinical medicine, including the allied health fields. Includes biological and physical sciences and humanities where they relate to health care.
Embase (Ovid) - onsite access Onsite access from St George's PCs and library laptops
Produced by Elsevier. High quality database for research across medicine and health sciences which is updated daily and recommended for systematic reviews. Covers biomedicine and pharmacology; particularly strong in the areas of drugs, toxicology and psychiatry.
PsycINFO (Ovid) - onsite access Onsite access from St George's PCs and library laptops
Access to international literature in psychology, behavioural science and social sciences from the 1880s to present.
Web of Science - onsite access Onsite access from St George's PCs and library laptops
The Web of Science gives access to the Web of Science Core Collection (including Citation Reference Searching) Conference Proceedings and Journal Citation Reports (Science and Social Science).
Web of Science is part of the Clarivate Analytics group of products which includes Essential Science Indicators and Journal Citation Reports.

We also provide access to evidence-based healthcare resources such as:

AccessMedicine (McGraw-Hill) - St George's students and staff
St George's username and password required for access
AccessMedicine includes access to 130+ e-books organised by basic sciences,
clinical medicine, and healthcare systems. The AccessMedicine resource also includes access to cases, videos, and Q&As.
Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy - St George's students and staff St George's username and password required for access
An accessible source of anatomical knowledge with simple language and realistic, 3D visuals. You can access the exams (the quiz section) and save your favourites by registering for a personal account
BMJ Best Practice - onsite access Onsite access from St George's PCs and library laptops
BMJ Best Practice is an online point of care tool that gives healthcare professionals access to the latest information when making diagnosis and treatment decisions.
BNF (MedicinesComplete) - St George's students and staff St George's username and password required for access
Provides healthcare professionals with authoritative and practical information on the selection and clinical use of medicines. Includes the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary.
Complete Anatomy - St George's students and staff
St George's username and password required for access
Complete Anatomy is a 3D anatomy platform including models and videos, with an extensive library of structures and muscle movements. Complete Anatomy is a 3D Anatomy app that can be downloaded from the app store on your device.

An activation code is required for full access to the app:
SGUL Students - access information can be obtained in the SGUL Library Canvas module

SGUL Staff - please email the library team to request the staff activation code

Use of Complete Anatomy is subject to the Complete Anatomy Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, consent to these terms is inferred by use of the resource.

SGUL staff may create and share content via Complete Anatomy, and track student engagement and attainment with this content. This may include lectures, screens and quizzes on the Complete Anatomy platform. Interactions with this content are tracked in the Complete Anatomy platform and a digital record is created which SGUL staff can use to review student attainment in quizzes at both an individual and cohort level. These records may be used by SGUL staff to inform curriculum planning and could be exported to use in student records.

For support with access to library resources, please email journals@sgul.ac.uk
JoVE Journal of Visualized Experiments - St George's students and staff St George's username and password required for access
JoVE makes and publishes videos of scientific experiments from international laboratories. Includes sections on: Behaviour, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biology, Cancer Research, Chemistry, Developmental Biology, Engineering, Environment, Genetics, Immunology and Infection, Medicine, and Neuroscience.

To find these and more and to see the offsite access links, visit our Databases page. If you know which resource you are looking for, use the A-Z list to navigate to it. You can also browse databases by speciality or resource type. When you have selected a resource, choose the appropriate on-site (no login required) or off-site (university login required) link to access it.

Online Resources

Cochrane Library Free access to users in England & Wales through funding by the NHS and contributing HE Institutions.
Collection of databases covering controlled trials, systematic reviews, review protocols and more. Includes: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, NHS EED (NHS Economic Evaluation Database) and HTA (Health Technology Assessments).
PubMed - St George's students and staff Freely available online
PubMed is a free version of Medline, published by the US National Library of Medicine (NLM). Click on the link above to access a customised version of PubMed displaying links for full text access via St George's Library.

Libraries

BMA Library
The BMA library specialises in current clinical practice, medical ethics and education and providing expert information to it's members.
The King's Fund Library Services
The King's Fund provides a unique and free source of information on health and social care policy and management.
SCONUL Access
SCONUL Access is a scheme which allows many university library users to borrow or use books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme. This includes access to other University of London libraries. The extent of your access will depend on what course you are studying.
Wellcome Library
The Wellcome Collection library has an extensive collection relating to medical history as well as contemporary research.

Websites

Faculty of Physician Associates
Membership organisation that provides professional support to physician associates across the UK
General Medical Council - GMC
The UK's independent regulator of doctors. Useful resource for clinical practice and prescription guidance as well as information on ethical standards.
Department of Health and Social Care
Government department responsible for health and social care policy. Provides access to legislation, reports, public health information and health statistics.