Reference Sources
Use reference sources (medical encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.) to look up definitions and gather background information or basic facts about a topic. This will help build your vocabulary and in turn, help you create better search phrases.
As you read, take note of these things . . .
- Spelling: tumor (U.S. English) vs. tumour (British English)
- Terminology: stroke vs. cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- Date: check the publication date
Search for Background Info
The following databases are great starting points for finding health-related background information.