Science Clips FAQ

Question: How does Science Clips identify CDC publications? Is there a search strategy for this, or do people submit suggestions?
The Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library Staff search 8 databases (Embase, Global Health, Web of Science, Compendex, CINAHL, Psych Abs, NIOSHTIC-2 and PubMed) to find articles authored by CDC staff. This includes authors affiliated with CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). All materials are included as long as they are less than 8 weeks old.

Question: How are the “top ten” articles selected?
The full content of Science Clips is reviewed each week by a senior medical officer or health scientist, who selects the “top ten” featured articles based primarily on population impact and translation potential. Other factors, including media interest, relevance to CDC Winnable Battles and Strategic Priorities, and balance of topics, are taken into account.

Question: How are the Featured Topics articles selected?
The “featured topics” section includes influential articles selected on a rotating basis by CDC subject matter experts. Topics may be coordinated with CDC Vital Signs or Public Health Grand Rounds.

Question: How is Science Clips distributed outside of CDC?
As of November, 2011, CDC’s Epi-X/HAN team sends the Science Clips weekly digest to external subscribers through the Govdelivery system, an email listserv system used extensively by CDC that allows for rapid distribution of information to a large number of subscribers and quick tabulation of user data. The Health Alert Network was initially used (in mid 2010) for external distribution of Science Clips, followed by a basic listserv that was used for Science Clips distribution through October, 2011. The use of Govdelivery is anticipated to enhance and automate the distribution process for Science Clips.

Question: Does the Science Clips weekly digest only contain finalized publications/articles?
To promote and highlight emerging scientific information, some articles included in Science Clips may be uncorrected proofs (i.e. articles that have not yet been finalized by the authors in the editing process). Readers should be aware that articles of this type may be subject to change before final publication. Clips users should consult journal websites for details regarding final article posting/publication and citation policies and formats.

Question: How are the references selected for the Science Clips issues that align with CDC Vital Signs?
Answer: Once per month, Science Clips features the same topic as CDC Vital Signs. All Vital Signs products and information are based on a scientific article simultaneously published in the MMWR. The references for the MMWR article are reviewed by the Science Clips editor, and are initially chosen based on scientific relevance for a clinical and public health audience. Both the lead CDC subject matter expert for the MMWR article and the Vital Signs coordinator are then consulted regarding addition of review articles intended to provide a comprehensive introduction to the subject for clinical and public health readers. The final list of citations, along with access to full text content or abstracts, is posted on the Science Clips websites at the same time as the MMWR article.

If you have more questions about Science Clips please contact us at: scienceclips@cdc.gov