Graduate school assignment on database searching

1. Online Database/Search
LIS - 605

2. Thalidomide
Question
What role (if any) does the Federal Government
have in authorizing the dispensing of the
drug Thalidomide to patients suffering from
multiple myeloma?
What are the physical and
mental effects caused by prolonged
use of this drug?

3. Profile
Patricia is a retired social worker
who worked for Westchester County. She
explained that her job with the County was
that of Eligibility Examiner, she was
responsible for approving cases for families
that wanted their older loved ones placed in
nursing homes. She also worked at a Mental
Health Association for many years.

4. Thalidomide (tha-LIH-doh-MIDE)
“A drug that is used to treat multiple myeloma in
patients who have just been diagnosed,
and a painful skin disease related to leprosy. It
is also being studied in the treatment of other
types of cancer. Thalidomide belongs to the
family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors,
also called Thalomide.”
(http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alpha.
aspx?CdrID=45458)

5. Identified Concepts
Seven concepts were identified:
drug thalidomide, thalidomide drug
interactions, multiple myeloma, Federal
Government, thalidomide mental effects,
thalidomide physical effects,
and cancer patients.
These concepts were used to conduct
database and online searches relevant to the
question asked by the patron.

6. Search Strategy
• Free Search Engines: (Google, Ask and
About.com).
• Digital Libraries: (Pubmed.gov, Medline).
• Non-Profit and Government Websites: (FDA.gov,
AACR.org (American Association for Cancer
Research), Citeulike.org and Cancer.gov).
• Medical Journals: JAMA (Journal of American
Medical Association, Gale Group – Health and
Wellness Resource Center.
• Fee-based Databases: (DIALOG, Factiva,
Lexis Nexis).

7. Multimedia
news clips

8. Some Results
• Results
Free Search Engines
Google Search Results:
• Bombay Hospital Journal, Vol. 50, No. 3, 2008
• http://www.bhj.org/journal/2008_5003_july/download/page-472-476.pdf
A link that led to information published by St. Vincent’s Hospital was selected.
•
• Ask Search Results:
• Myeloma Treatment – Cancer researchers at Manhattan-based
St. Vincent’s Hospital http://www.myelomatreatment.org/news/?=66
• 123 Cure – Counting Down the Day We Eliminate Multiple Myeloma was also retrieved.
http://www.themmrf.org/assets/take-action_donate-now/321-brochure.pdf
•
• Non-Profit and Government Websites
Cancer.org Results
• http://www3.cancer.gov/admin/fmb/2003cj.doc
• FDA Approval letter for Thalidomide
•
• FDA.gov Results
Thalidomide Overview
•
• Cancer.gov
http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alpha.aspx?CdrID=45458
•
• Medical Journals
Sophie Ochonisky, MD; Josette Verroust, MD; Sylvie Bastuji-Garin, MD; Romain Gherardi, MD; Jean Revuz, MD
Arch Dermatol. 1994; 130(1):66-69.