PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

In order to provide easy access to detailed, reliable, and current environmental health information, approriate information systems are being called for in several programmatic Public Health documents. Information needs include: current state of a geographic area, scientific knowledge, legal regulations, and additional resources. Systems of environmental health statistical indicators combine the features of technical systems with those of cooperative networks. As for the vast supply of electronic inquiry systems, it is crucial for users to be guided by typological and quality characteristics of databases. To overcome obstacles barring potential users from effective use of these systems, explicit information planning is needed, including provision of access by training of personnell, and implementation of information workstations. Environmental health information centers help to evaluate and access existing information sources, provide additional products, and contribute more directly to health promotion, e.g. via environmental health reporting and planning involvement.