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A person prepares to put a virtual reality headset on. Across from the person is an open laptop on a desk.

Did you know that Himmelfarb Library has two tools that allow you to interact with 3D anatomical models? Would you like to manipulate virtual anatomical models? Are you interested in performing ‘dissections’ with anatomical models?  BodyViz and the new Quest VR Headsets are two resources available to you!

BodyViz is an interactive anatomy visualization tool that allows you to view, study and manipulate 3D anatomical models. The BodyViz suite  is located on the 3rd floor near the Bloedorn Technology Center. Along with the large screen, the BodyViz toolkit includes a wireless mouse, keyboard, remote control and game controller. These tools will assist you in navigating the software and models. To use the BodyViz suite, you must reserve a time slot. You may reserve the suite for up to four hours and time slots are available in hour long increments. When using the BodyViz suite, please visit the Circulation Desk to check out the wireless keyboard and additional equipment. Make sure all items are returned at the end of your session. The BodyViz Research Guide provides additional information including a Quick Start Guide which provides step-by-step instruction on how to use the software and wireless devices. There is also a Troubleshooting guide in case you encounter issues with the software or devices. 

Himmelfarb Library recently acquired two Quest VR devices which are equipped with Medicalholodeck, a medical virtual reality platform. Medicalholodeck comes with three different educational features: Anatomy Master XR, Dissection Master XR and Medical Imaging XR. With Anatomy Master and Medical Imaging XR, you can view models with another Quest VR headset user. There is a new VR Headsets Research Guide that provides additional information about the capabilities of the headsets, information on how to use the headsets and the accompanying software and an overview on how to navigate the user interface in Medicalholodeck. Visit the Circulation Desk on the library’s first floor if you’re interested in checking out the VR headsets. Also, be sure to reserve a study room so you’re able to use the headsets without obstruction. 
BodyViz and Quest VR headsets with Medicalholodeck are two excellent educational tools available for use. If you encounter any issues while using one of these resources, please contact Brian McDonald at bmcdonald@gwu.edu, Ian Roberts at imroberts@gwu.edu or the library at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

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The vast reach of medical misinformation, particularly on social media, is a pressing issue for healthcare professionals. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging Monkeypox public health crisis, physicians and researchers continue to educate the general public on safe, research-tested, effective treatment plans. But engaging in conversations about the dangers of medical misinformation is difficult, especially if the participants believe they are unable to speak openly without ridicule or judgment. Himmelfarb’s new Correcting Misinformation with Patients research guide provides resources, readings, educational videos and more to help you navigate conversations with your patients when addressing medical misinformation. 

Correcting medical misinformation is important because many people do not have the background or expertise to assess the accuracy of information that is spread via social media. This can cause lasting harm that could even result in serious illness or death. A recent NPR article examined how some patients rely on unproven and dangerous COVID-19 treatment plans:

“But for Americans like Stephanie who don’t trust the medical establishment, there’s a network of fringe medical doctors, natural healers and internet personalities ready to push unproven cures for COVID. And a shady black market where you can buy them. Stephanie was plugged into that alternative medical network, and doctors say it ultimately cost her life.” [Brumfiel, 2022]

While this research guide is filled with valuable resources, consider starting with the Narrative & Graphic Medicine section which offers a definition of ‘graphic medicine,’ medicine related graphics and books, and more to help you engage with patients. The Misinformation and Cultural Competency tab contains information that explores how to engage with different cultural groups in a respectful manner. Finally, the Communication Techniques tab offers communication methods you can use with your patients. 

In the Confronting Health Misinformation advisory document from the Office of the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy writes “Limiting the spread of health misinformation is a moral and civic imperative that will require a whole-of-society effort.” [Office of the Surgeon General, 2021]. Our Correcting Misinformation with Patients Guide will empower you to engage in open, respectful dialogue with your patients and provide them with the resources to locate accurate health information. 

References:

Brumfiel, G. (2022, July 19). Doubting mainstream medicine, COVID patients find dangerous advice and pills online. NPR. npr.org

Office of the Surgeon General. (2021). Confronting Health Misinformation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Healthy Information Environment.

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[Photo Credit: Women of Color in Tech]

Himmelfarb Library’s Scholarly Communications Committee is pleased to announce five new short lectures have been added to our video library! This round of videos cover topics such as finding article publishing charges (APC) costs, changing citation styles in PubMed, contextualizing preprints and more. 

Locating Article Publishing Charges (APCs)- In this video, you’ll learn about Article Publishings Charges (APCs), how to find them on a publisher’s website and at the end of the tutorial, receive some tips that will help you handle APCs. 

Changing Citation Styles in PubMed- Would you like to learn how to switch from AMA to APA or MLA? This video will focus on changing citation styles when generating citations in PubMed.

Locating Manuscript Guidelines- Learn how to locate manuscript preparation guidelines and author resources for scholarly journals. This tutorial will guide you through three different journal websites to show you where manuscript guidelines are typically located. 


Finding Journals with JCR- In this tutorial, you’ll learn about the Journal Citations Report database and how it can help you discover scholarly journals where you can submit your research for publication.

APA Citations for Legal Resources-  Are you familiar with the Bluebook legal citation style? Do you want to cite case law, but are unsure of the proper citation format?This video will provide a basic introduction to this citation style used by the APA which is useful when citing legal resources.

These videos and the committee’s other videos from previous lectures are located under the ‘Scholarly Communications Video Tutorials’ tab on the Scholarly Publishing guide. The guide also includes resources to help scholars find a journal that will publish their research, tips on how to spot and avoid predatory publishers, ways to increase the visibility of your published research and more!

 The Committee is working on another set of videos that will be released during the fall semester 2022. The committee members are eager for feedback and/or suggestions for video topics. We would love to hear from you! If you have a scholarly publishing topic that you’d like the committee to discuss, please contact the committee chair, Sara Hoover, at shoover@gwu.edu.

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Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking is the premier textbook for instruction on physical exam, patient history taking, and assessment concepts and is currently in its 13th edition. Himmelfarb also subscribes to the audiovisual complement to Bates which includes substantial video content on physical examination, OSCE clinical skills, communication and interpersonal skills. Videos demonstrate head to toe exams and systems based exams.

Screenshot from Bates Visual Guide to Physical Examination
Screenshot from Bates Visual Guide to Physical Examination

Over twenty new videos recently became available which provide training on communication skills and working with specific patient populations!

  • Technique: Active or Attentive Listening (1:47)
  • Technique: Guided Questioning (5:20)
  • Technique: Empathic Responses (3:31)
  • Technique: Summarization (2:03)
  • Technique: Transitions (2:03)
  • Technique: Empowering the Patient (3:14)
  • Technique: Reassurance (1:53)
  • Use of Understandable Language (3:41)
  • Use of Non-Stigmatizing Language (1:57)
  • Appropriate Nonverbal Communication (3:37)
  • Use of Preferred Title, Name, and Gender Pronoun (3:42)
  • Interprofessional Communication (3:12)
  • Patient-Centeredness in Computerized Clinical Settings (4:45)
  • Teach-Back Method (4:06)
  • Rapport: Newborns and Infants (1:58)
  • Rapport: Young Children (2:08)
  • Rapport: Adolescents (2:55)
  • Rapport: Older Adults (2:48)
  • Rapport: Patients with Physical and Sensory Disabilities (5:50)
  • Rapport: LGBTQ+ Adults (8:58)
  • Broaching Sensitive Topics (2:59)
  • Obtaining Informed Consent (3:47)
  • Discussing Advance Directives (3:38)
  • Working with Medical Interpreters (6:48)
  • Disclosing Serious News (3:57)
  • Responding to Emotional Cues (3:09)
  • Motivational Interviewing (7:49)

Bates’ Visual Guide to Physical Examination, including the videos, is available in on campus locations. To access this content while off-campus, log into the GW VPN with your GW NetID.

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Photograph of a typewriter with a piece of paper with the word "Update" typed on it in large font.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash 

Himmelfarb Library has good news to share! We are thrilled to announce that we were able to resubscribe to a portion of the journal titles that were canceled as a result of pandemic related library collections budget cuts during 2021. 

While most of these titles were previously part of our collection, Translational Behavioral Medicine is a new title for Himmelfarb and we are excited to finally be able to offer this faculty recommended title as part of our journal collection. Decisions on which titles to add back to our collection were largely based on prior usage of these titles, subscription cost, number of faculty publications within each title, and faculty feedback from the 2021 Faculty Journal Survey.

Below is a list of the 29 titles that were added back to our journal collection, effective immediately. 

For questions or additional information about these titles, please contact Ruth Bueter (rbueter@gwu.edu). 

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Psychiatry Online logo.

PsychiatryOnline, which hosts books such as the DSM-5 and textbooks published by the American Psychological Association, recently launched their new Exam Dashboard for all Study Guide books available through the PsychiatryOnline Premium package. 

The Exam Dashboard allows users to test their knowledge by taking multiple-choice questions derived directly from the text of the books. 

To access the Dashboard, users will need to set up a personal (and free!) MyPOL account. From the PsychOnline homepage, click on the sign in button and select “New User,” or sign in with your existing MyPOL account information. If you wish to access Himmelfarb Library’s subscription, use your GW email address (ending in @gwu.edu). 

Screenshot of Sign In tab in Psychiatry Online.

Once you’ve created your account, you may visit the Exam Dashboard at https://psychiatryonline.org/education/home. The Dashboard will display your testing history, including the number of tests completed, number of questions answered, and your overall percentage of questions answered correctly. This information is for your personal use only and cannot be viewed or accessed by any other user or any member of your institution. 

You can access exams by navigating to the Premium Book Collection (Books>Premium Books) and scrolling down to the Study Guides at the bottom of the page. Study Guides are currently the only books fitted to the Exam Dashboard. Select the book you wish to read or test from and then select “Quiz.” 

Screenshot of Menu Bar with Books: Premium Books selected.

You will then be asked to select the desired features of your exam. You can choose to have the correct answer provided for you after answering each question, or after you’ve completed the quiz. You can choose to answer questions you have not yet answered, questions you have previously gotten wrong, or choose to answer questions of “any type,” meaning that questions you’ve previously seen may be mixed in with questions that are new to you. You then choose which chapters you would like your questions to be pulled from (select as many chapters as you like). Finally, you choose how many questions you would like to answer. To begin, click “Start Exam.” 

While taking the exam, if you chose to have the answer provided for you after answering, you will see the correct answer listed, followed by an explanation from the book. To navigate to the next question, click next question on the right hand side of the screen, or select the next question on the left hand side: 

Screenshot of question navigation bar.

If you choose to view your results after completing the exam, you will be instructed to click “Submit for Final Grading.” This takes you to the exam summary page, which shows your test Grade by percentage correct, the breakdown count of questions answered correctly and incorrectly, and total time spent on the exam. You can also choose to have your results emailed to you. To view each question and answer individually, select the question from the left hand side of the screen. 

Screenshot of "Submit for Final Grading" button.
Screenshot of grading summary page.

When you have completed your exam, click the Dashboard button to return to the Exam Dashboard: 

Screenshot of Dashboard.

Please note that these exams are for personal use only and do not confer any CE/CME credits. 

For more details and instructions, consult the Exam Dashboard user guide. If you have any additional questions or have trouble accessing PsychiatryOnline, please contact Ian Roberts at imroberts@gwu.edu 

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DynaMed Decisions is now available via Himmelfarb Library!  DynaMed Decisions is a clinical decision support system.  It’s designed to enhance clinical decision-making, assist clinical providers, and strengthen patient engagement.  DynaMed Decisions is available via DynaMed by switching tabs at the top of the screen, and can also be accessed directly as a standalone resource. 

DynaMed Decision’s Shared Decision-Making Tools and Clinical Calculators can help clinicians and patients navigate decisions by incorporating both patient preferences and complex clinical scenarios.  The decision-making tools are organized by category (e.g. cancer, bones & joints, diabetes, serious illness).  Each tool is displayed in a table to indicate which type(s) of decision-making support is available:

  • Tools that incorporate individual patient data for personalized results
  • Tools that incorporate a risk/benefit calculator
  • Tools that provide an option grid so patients and caregivers can explore the risk and benefits of different decisions.   

All of the shared decision-making tools provide access to an option grid which can help clearly describe the risks and benefits of the available choices.  For example, the option grid for  COVID-19 Vaccine Options compares no vaccine vs Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines vs the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  For each possible choice, the grid provides brief, straightforward information on the benefits, short term side effects or harms, and long term side effects or harms.  

For some decision-making tools, clinicians and patients can start with personalized information to work through the decision-making process.  For example, the ‘Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Options to Lower Stroke Risk’ shared decision-making tool begins with patient information: 

Based on the data provided about the patient, users can move to the assessment and guidance section which provides more customized information and recommendations: 

The final portion of the shared decision-making tool allows the clinician and patient to explore outcomes based on different prospective choices in a clear graphical format,  as well as view the option grid for a textual information display: 

DynaMed Decisions includes tools to help clinicians share the decision-making tools with patients as well as document their use in health care records.  Clinicians can generate QR codes, web links, and PDFs to share with patients.  Clinicians can also generate a brief note to document the use of a decision aid in the patient’s health care record: 

DynaMed Decisions also provides access to clinical calculators.  These calculators are evidence-based and created by physicians to support clinician’s workflows.  For example, the Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Diagnostic Evaluation in Stable Adults clinical calculator allows a clinician to enter key pieces of patient data: 

Based on the individual patient’s data, the calculator will provide risk and benefit information along with clinical guidance.

DynaMed and DynaMed Decisions are available to all GW users.  Users located on-site should have direct access to these resources without logging in; direct access includes access from the GW University Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates.

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Image of a virus with a syringe injecting a vaccine.
Photo by Ivan Diaz on Unsplash

With the development of COVID-19 vaccines, there has been a renewed interest in all things vaccine related and vaccine development has taken center stage on the global stage. In support of vaccine research, Springer Nature has compiled key resources on the past, present and future of vaccine research in a new Evolution of Vaccines resource that is available to you through Himmelfarb Library! Simply request access to these resources by completing a short form, and you will have access to these fantastic resources. 

In the Past: Laying Down the Groundwork section of this resource, you will find a collection of historical perspectives on breakthroughs in vaccines throughout history, a timeline of vaccine milestones, a poster presentation of the history of antibodies, webinar recordings, infographics, and ebooks on vaccines. Learn about the origins of vaccines in the mid-1500s in China and the 18th century accounts in India, the development of the smallpox vaccine, the first live attenuated vaccines, to the development of TB vaccine and tetanus vaccine and much more in the Nature Milestones in Vaccines of this resource.

In the Present: The Latest Developments section of this resource, you will find case studies, blog posts, videos, review articles, and article collections all related to current vaccine developments. In the Future: What We Can Expect section of this resource, you will find review articles, perspectives, podcasts, blog posts, and article collections that explore how vaccines might progress in the future. 

Also included in this collection are two short videos that do a fantastic job of explaining how vaccines work and how vaccines are developed:

How Vaccines Work

How Vaccines are Developed:

To learn more about the past, present, and future of vaccine research, explore The Evolution of Vaccines: Insights into the Past, Present and Future.

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Published on 1 Comment on Cool Tools: Back To School Edition

The start of this semester marks an exciting time where many students, staff and faculty members will return to the George Washington University campus for in-person instruction. The transition away from a completely virtual classroom may be a difficult leap for some to make and we’d like to assist you during this process. Preparing for a new semester is always a great time to pause and reflect on the tools you use to help you maintain focus, organize your schedule or study for an upcoming exam. Below is a list of productivity tools that you may find useful as you begin your coursework:

  • BodyViz: If you’re interested in studying anatomical structures in an interactive way, head to the third floor of Himmelfarb library and check out the anatomy software available for use. With BodyViz, you’ll be able to examine over 1,000 preloaded 3D anatomical structures or you can upload your own models to the software suite. Reservations are required to use the software and accompanying hardware. This is a great tool if you’re a visual learner or if you’re interested in ‘hands-on’ experience while studying. Be sure to read our BodyViz libguide to learn more.
  • LibKey Nomad: This browser extension will easily connect you to articles within Himmelfarb’s collection. With LibKey Nomad installed, if there is a full PDF version of the article available you can download it with a simple click. This extension will also guide you to the article’s listing in the collection and offer potential delivery options. The extension is compatible with many websites such as Pubmed and Scopus and is free to use.
  • Notion: Do you want a digital space where you can store your notes, to-do lists, upcoming events and other important details? Then consider using Notion, an all-in-one workspace that allows you to create pages and entries that work for you and your needs. The app offers templates to help you get started and there are tutorials that will highlight key features of the application. Notion’s Personal Plan is free and you’re able to invite up to five guests for collaboration. If you’re interested in incorporating Notion into your routine, start with this quick tutorial that covers the basics of creating your workspace:
  • Pomodoro Method: You may have heard of this time management system before. Set a timer for a period of time and work until the timer rings. Take a break and repeat the cycle until you’ve completed your tasks or your study session. According to Kat Boogaard of The Muse, “The idea behind the technique is that the timer instills a sense of urgency….Additionally, the forced breaks help to cure that frazzled, burnt-out feeling most of us experience toward the end of the day.” There are several apps that help you track the time. You can use the timer installed on most smartphones and computers. Or try the Marinara Timer or Flow if you have an Apple device. Or search YouTube for any number of ‘Study With Me’ videos or channels such as Merve Study Corner.
  • Stay Organized: As the semester progresses, it’s easy to lose track of important dates, upcoming exams, or school breaks. Using a planner, whether virtual or physical, can reduce stress and contribute to a productive and enjoyable semester. If you’ve struggled with maintaining a planner in the past, consider picking a day and time devoted solely towards adding events to your calendar.  If you’re interested in keeping a virtual calendar, try Google Calendar or the calendar app installed on your computer. Notion also has a calendar feature that can be added to your workspace. If you want to use a physical planner, consider the Bullet Journal method and customize your planner to fit your needs. If you need help getting started with setting up a bullet journal, YouTube offers plenty of tutorials and inspirational videos. AmandaRachLee’s channel is a great place to begin!

Do you have tools and resources to help you manage your coursework throughout the semester? Share them in the comments! We’d love to hear from you and maybe your comment will help one of your peers.

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XKCD webcomic Wikipedian Protester

Announcing the Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, more commonly known as APA Citation Style! The APA published their updated 7th Edition late last Fall, and the APA-using community is beginning to transition from the 6th Edition to the 7th. Luckily, most of the changes have been quality-of-life changes.

The good news for students?

  • No more running heads!
  • No need for publication place in book citations!
  • Any in-text citations with more than three authors are shortened to the first author and et al.!
  • Clearer guidelines for including contributors other than authors and editors, e.g. podcast hosts!
  • Increased font flexibility!
    • Hello Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, and Georgia 11 (in addition to the old favorite, Times New Roman 12)!

The goal of APA 7th Edition is to codify many of the suggested citation rules the APA created as the 6th Edition evolved. In addition to making these suggestions into official guidelines, the APA has adjusted how it cites more modern texts, in particular anything with a URL. The hope is to make citation a more streamlined process, while maintaining a rigorous academic standard.

The APA is suggesting users begin to switch to 7th Edition rules Spring 2020, though some universities and groups may choose to put off the transition to Fall 2020. Check with your professors on which version they expect you to use, if it’s not included in your syllabus.

For 7th Edition resources, be sure to check out our APA Research Guide. We recently updated it to conform to the 7th Edition. The APA Style Blog has also transitioned to 7th Edition, and is a great resource for more obscure citation questions. For 6th Edition resources, Purdue OWL still has their 6th Edition site live, though they do note they are scheduled to publish the updated 7th Edition guide in Spring 2020. You can also still find the APA Style Blog’s 6th Edition Archive, so you can search it for answers to any 6th Edition questions.

You can always reach out to us at Himmelfarb Library with any questions you may have. Our reference staff are more than happy to answer your questions about APA 6th or 7th Edition!

Image Source: Munroe, R. (2007). Wikipedian protester [Webcomic]. xkcd. https://xkcd.com/285/

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