CD-ROM
STAT!-Ref Medical Information CD 1996
CMAJ 1997;156:898
| Overall rating: |
Very good |
| Strengths: |
Can replace up to 27 medical textbooks at a comparable price; efficient search engine |
| Weaknesses: |
Contains only text and tables, no multimedia (i.e., sound, pictures or video) features |
| Audience: |
The complete package contains textbooks useful for primary care physicians, internists, emergency physicians, psychiatrists and pharmacists |
| System requirements: |
Windows/DOS: IBM PC or compatible computer with 386 (25 MHz) processor or higher, 4 MB RAM, 6 MB hard disk space, CD-ROM, Windows 3.1 or higher, VGA graphics monitor (SVGA highly recommended). Macintosh: Any Macintosh with 4 MB RAM, 4 MB hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, System 7.0 or higher, 256-colour monitor |
STAT!-Ref Medical Information CD contains the full text and tables from 27 medical textbooks. Although each CD-ROM contains all of the textbooks, the user only gets access to the titles that he or she pays for. The manufacturer sends the user a password that unlocks specific titles. Two other STAT!-Ref CD-ROMs are also available: one contains the citations or abstracts from a selected group of journals included in MEDLINE and another focuses on oncology.
When you start STAT!-Ref, the entire library is automatically uploaded. The main window comes up on the screen, and you click on the specific textbooks you want to search. Next, you simply type in your search terms, e.g., "angina," and click on the search button. The entire CD-ROM is searched in 7 seconds or less. Matches appear on the screen, and you double-click on the selection you want. Icons at the top of the screen allow you to move through the document you have selected, move to other documents, print or leave a bookmark. Several options are available to modify or simplify your search. Overall, the search engine is easy to learn and very fast. To search the journals, you simply change CD-ROMs and search in a similar manner. The journal CD-ROM contains selected journal citations or abstracts from MEDLINE from 1990 to the present.
Initially, I was only moderately impressed by STAT!-Ref because it is text-based and does not have the flashy pictures and video found on most CD-ROMs. However, the longer I had STAT!-Ref, the more I used it. In fact, of all the medical CD-ROMs I have, it is the one I use most often, simply because it contains the most information and allows me to access the information quickly. For this reason, I usually keep the STAT!-Ref CD-ROM in the drive and switch to other CD-ROMs when needed. Almost any medical question I have can be answered by one of the textbooks on the CD-ROM, and I can search several textbooks at the same time. For example, if I have an internal medicine question, I can search Stein's Internal Medicine, Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment and the Merck Manual simultaneously. Other benefits of the CD-ROM are that it takes up considerably less space than the book versions and it is more current. You receive quarterly updates for 1 year.
A nice feature of the STAT!-Ref CD-ROMs is that you pay only for the titles that you want. The Medical Information CD has several different packages that allow you to choose from 6 to 27 textbooks. For example, the Starter Package contains 5 titles in the Current Diagnosis and Treatment series (Medical, Surgical, Pediatric, Emergency and Obstetrics and Gynecology) plus the Merck Manual and retails for US$199.50. The top-of-the-line package, the Complete Package, contains all 27 textbooks, plus the MEDLINE CD with your choice of 2 journal packages and retails for US$2295. Textbooks can also be purchased individually or added to an existing package. If you want to update any of your textbooks, you simply pay for the titles you want updated. MEDLINE journal packages contain from 9 to 19 journals. The general journal package includes many of the most popular journals, e.g., BMJ, JAMA, Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine. The other journal packages available are specific to specialties such as cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine. For physicians in group practices, who are interested in sharing the CD on a network or putting the CD information on a server, network rates are available.
There are a few weaknesses. I was disappointed that the CD-ROM did not include pictures or video clips, as these would have added to the txAlthough the cost for the Complete Package is less than purchasing all of the titles in hard copy, it is still expensive. Finally, Canadian physicians will probably not need or use all the titles contained on the CD-ROM; for example, it contains the USP DI, whereas Canadian physicians use the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties.
I highly recommend STAT!-Ref for primary care professionals in solo or group practices. It is particularly useful for physicians who do not have quick access to a medical library. It would also be useful for academic practices, as the latest information is quickly available for teaching, preparing presentations and conducting research. For physicians who are starting computer-based practices it would be particularly appealing, especially if they have a network that allows several professionals to access the CD-ROM. For most physicians, the Complete Package is probably unnecessary. I recommend reviewing the list of available titles and choosing those most relevant to your practice.
D. Roderick Elford, MD
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, Nfld.
Manufacturer's update:
Several features have been added to the July 1996 release of STAT!-Ref:
- Teton Viewer 4.0 software
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary
- Cross-platform CD
- Bookmarks and notes, all sortable
- Tool tips
- Improved networking capabilities
- Greater customization options
Browse the STAT!-Ref product page for additional product information; and be sure to return to CMAJ!
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