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Consumer Health: General Health

This LibGuide is about Consumer Health.

CMCC Databases

Access Medicine: Patient Education

AccessMedicine from McGraw-Hill Medical is a comprehensive online medical resource that provides a complete spectrum of knowledge from the best minds in medicine, with essential information accessible anywhere.

DynaMed Patient Resources

DynaMed’s primary mission is to improve healthcare outcomes by continuously updating and providing the most accurate, evidence-based content. 

Merck Manuals: Patient Resources

First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists,  the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. 

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More Websites

Daily Med

The official provider of FDA label information (package inserts), the website provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States.

HealthyWomen

The website provides a broad range of information about women's health, such as aging and menopause, breast cancer, migraine, mental health, wellness, and self-care.

Healthy Men

The website focuses on male health care and includes resources on screening tests, disease prevention, healthy living and more. 

Let’s Move

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation.

MLA: Consumer and Patient Health Information

List of recommended books on Patient Education provided by the Medical Library Association (ML).

Rainbow Health Ontario

The website provides current and evidence-based information on LGBT2SQ health resources, research, education and training as part of supporting better health outcomes for LGBT2SQ communities in Ontario.  

SexandU.ca

SexandU.ca takes a real-life approach to the questions and issues around sex and sexuality that matter most to Canadians. From talking about sex, to lifestyle choices, to contraception awareness and sexually transmitted infections, SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health.

Selected Websites: A-Z

About Kids Health Canada

A health education resource for children, youth and caregivers that is approved by health-care providers at The Hospital for Sick Children.  It makes complex health information easy to understand for families; includes multilingual content.

Canadian Cancer Society

Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) provides services to those living with cancer, advocates on important cancer-related issues and educates and empowers people to make healthy choices.

Cancer Care Ontario

The Ontario government’s principal cancer advisor, Cancer Care Ontario equips health professionals, organizations and policy-makers with the most up-to-date cancer knowledge and tools to prevent cancer and deliver high-quality patient care.  

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -US

The American health protection agency’s website provides information on diseases and conditions, healthy living, emergency preparedness, global health, environmental health, injury prevention and control, and more.

​Choosing Wisely Canada: Patient Resources

Choosing Wisely Patient Pamphlets are meant to help patients learn about the tests, treatments, and procedures to question, when they are necessary and when they are not, and what patients can do to improve their health.

Cleveland Clinic: Health Library

Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest and most respected hospitals in the country. Our mission is to provide better care of the sick, investigation into their problems, and further education of those who serve. Learn more about our leadership, vision, values and model of healthcare.

Diabetes Canada

A national charity serving Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. The website provides information on different types of diabetes, medication and lifestyle management, self-care, as well as clinical practice guidelines, case studies and patient resources.

FamilyDoctor.org

A comprehensive resource from the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Features an A-Z listing of diseases and conditions, with doctor-approved information about symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention.  

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)

The First Nations Health Authority is the health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across BC; the first and only provincial First Nations Health Authority in Canada.

Government of Canada, Health

An all-encompassing site with health and health service information for Canadians.  See content covering a wide variety of topics, such things as food and nutrition, vaccines and immunization, product safety, healthy living, diseases and conditions, drug and health products, and Indigenous health.  

Health Reach-Patient Education Materials

HealthReach is a national collaborative partnership in the US that has created a database of free multilingual, multicultural health information and patient education materials for those working with or providing services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). 

Heart and Stroke

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is a source of information about stroke, heart disease, surgeries and treatments. It also provides heart-healthy tips on how to stay healthy and stress-free to avoid the heart diseases and strokes: diet, exercise, stress management, etc.   

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a non-profit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research. The website provides a broad coverage of consumer health information.

MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. It is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. 

MyHealth.Alberta.ca: Health A-Z

Another Canadian example of a comprehensive consumer health information resource.  This is a health portal to put Albertans in touch with their personal health record, along with other resources and services specific to that province. 

National Health Service (NHS), UK: Health A-Z

A collection of general health information provided by the UK's biggest health website.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): Health Topics

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) develops health education and awareness programs to effect positive change in public health. 

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) website includes information on health topics of interest to older adults.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-US

This website is a project of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIDA created this website to give youth ages 11 – 17 the facts about drugs and their effects on the brain and body. 

National Institutes of Health (NIH): Clear Health

A part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH is the nation’s medical research agency. The Clear Health tool provides consumer health information to A-Z health topics. 

Obesity Canada

Obesity Canada is the country’s leading obesity registered charity association for Health professionals, researchers, trainees and students, policy makers, Canadians living with obesity.

Osteoporosis Canada

The website provides medically accurate information on osteoporosis to patients, health care professionals and the public. Services include free publications in various languages, educational programs and referrals to self-help groups and community resources.
Patient

Trusted clinical information, written and peer reviewed by an extensive network of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK.

Public Health Agency: Aging and Seniors

The website provides information on a variety of topics relevant to aging population, including mental health support, fall prevention, emergency preparedness, elderly abuse, and injury prevention. 

Public Health Ontario

Information on Diseases and Conditions (A-Z), Laboratory Services in Ontario, Emergency Preparedness, Health equity and promotion, Immunization, Infection prevention and control, Health data analysis, Health policy development, and more.

IMD Canada

This website provides information for physician-patient contexts. There are variety of topics to choose from like health topics, health associations, health tests, financial supports, and health equity.

Community Resources

Health Line Canada

This website provides the local health and community services across Ontario. 

City of Toronto: Health & Wellness

The website provides a searchable list of all health programs and medical advice offered by the City of Toronto. Includes  a listing of all diseases, medications and vaccines related to public health in Toronto.

Ontario Canada: Community Health Centres

Outpatient clinics in the community that provide comprehensive primary health care and education by a team of health professionals.

Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care

The website provides information about health care services in Ontario, including finding a family doctor, health care options in local communities, Ontario health insurance, prescription drug benefit, OHIP, and senior's care.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The website publishes Public Health Notices of disease outbreaks or possible health risks to Canadians and provides information on chronic diseases, infectious diseases, food safety, immunizations and vaccines, and travel health.

Bridge2Health

Developed by Sinai Health System, the patient education website provides information on A-Z selected health topics, resources for caregivers, assistive devices & equipment, telephone helplines, and more.

St. Michael Hospital Patient and Family Learning Centre

Provides access to valid health resources for patients and their families, including the Online Health Library.

University Health Network: Patient Education and Engagement Program

The resources include health & wellness collections of websites, brochures, e-books, audio-books, and videos.

Sunnybrook Hospital: Patient Education Resources

Recourses by care program; wellness and healthy living videos; and Your Health Matters blog featuring health tips & info from Sunnybrook experts.