Health Bibliography

Health Bibliography

Joseph Samuka Sandy Jr

Assistant Librarian/ Head of Cataloguing, Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.100600118

Received: 09 June 2025; Accepted: 13 June 2025; Published: 18 July 2025

ABSTRACT

This study explores the historical and academic scopes of bibliography with a particular focus on its role in the documentation and dissemination of medical knowledge. Entrenched in both library and information science and the history of medicine, the research examines how bibliographic techniques including analytical, descriptive, and textual bibliography support the collection, classification, and critical assessment of medical texts. Drawing on a diverse body of literature from the early evolution of bibliography to its modern applications in health sciences, this study emphasizes the significance of bibliographic work in compiling, organising, and preserving knowledge. Additionally, it highlights the utility of medical bibliographies for various patrons, including researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and patients. By presenting an annotated bibliography of sixty (60) relevant sources, the study offers a valuable reference point for those engaging in medical research and historiography. The research also situates the development of healthcare systems in Sierra Leone within a bibliographic and historical framework, illustrating how bibliographic resources can aid in contextualizing national health progress. Eventually, the study underscores the enduring importance of bibliographic methods in an era of digital information while advocating for their continued integration into multidisciplinary research practices.

Key Word: Medical Bibliography, Historiography and Healthcare in Sierra Leone

INTRODUCTION

Bibliography as a discipline is traditionally the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology (“bibliology”. The Oxford English Dictionary 2^nd ed., 1989). English author and bibliographer John Carter describes bibliography as a word having two senses: one, a list of books for further study or of works consulted by an author (or enumerative bibliography); the other one, applicable for collectors, is “the study of books as physical objects” and “the systematic description of books as objects” (or descriptive bibliography) (Carter and Barker, 2004).

Also, bibliography is a specialized aspect of library science (or library and information science, LIS) and documentation science. It was established by a Belgian, named Paul Otlet (1868–1944), who was the founder of the field of documentation, as a branch of the information sciences, who wrote about “the science of bibliography.” (O’Hagan, 2017). However, there have recently been voices claiming that “the bibliographical paradigm” is obsolete, and it is not today common in Library and Information Science. A defence of the bibliographical paradigm was provided by Hjørland in2007 (Hjørland, 2007).

Further, McKenzie (2002) said that bibliography was manageable when books were still manuscripts copied out in the scriptoria of medieval European monasteries. After the invention of printing in the 15th century, however, books multiplied, and organising information about them became both more necessary and more practical. As early as 1545 the idea of a universal bibliography that would include all past and present writers roused the Swiss writer Conrad Gesner to compile his Bibliotheca universalis (1545; Universal Bibliography). Three years later he published a second volume, Pandectarum sive partitionum universalium libri XXI (“Twenty-one Books of Encyclopaedias or Universal Divisions [of Knowledge]”), in which the entries, arranged alphabetically in the earlier volume, were rearranged under 21 subject headings. Gesner’s attempts at both universality and classification earned him the title “the father of bibliography.

Staff (2007) looked at the types of bibliography and said that analytical bibliography as a type began early in the 20th century when scholars developed techniques to study the physical features of books. They were first successful at dating, identifying, and authenticating the earliest printed books, known as incunabula, which date from the second half of the 15th century. Analytical bibliography look at the branch of the bibliographic discipline that examines the material features of a textual artefact such as type, ink, paper, imposition, format, impressions and states of a book to essentially recreate the conditions of its production. Analytical bibliography often uses collateral evidence such as general printing practices, trends in format, responses and non-responses to design, etc. to scrutinize the historical conventions and influences underlying the physical appearance of a text. The bibliographer utilizes knowledge gained from the investigation of physical evidence in the form of a descriptive bibliography or textual bibliography (McKenzie, 2002). Furthermore, analytical Bibliography is the “technical study of the production of specific books, or of general printing practise, based entirely on the books themselves, not forgetting, however, what helpful correlation may be obtainable with collateral evidence” (Spikins and Needham 2018).wherein “what is important is that the impressed symbols which are letters and words are preserved in a physical and not in a literary way” (p. 192; p. 42); which leads to two further, self-explanatory branches. Carter and Barker (2004) wrote that descriptive bibliography is the close examination and cataloguing of a text as a physical object, recording its size, format, binding, and so on, while textual bibliography (or textual criticism) identifies variations and the aetiology of variations in a text with a view to determining “the establishment of the most correct form of text.  Research is the process or an activity that aims at exploring new knowledge by searching again.

Descriptive Bibliography is the transformation of the analysis into a report in which the bibliographer describes what has been found (i.e. “There is some need to emphasize that descriptive bibliography which is not based on analytical is practically useless, for it is as important to explain the reason for the peculiarities as it is to give the external facts about them; and, truly, the external facts often cannot be properly described until analytical bibliography has provided the reasons for their existence (Spikins and Needham 2018).

Textual (or Critical) Bibliography is “the application of the evidence of analytical bibliography, or at least of its pertinent methods, to textual problems where meaning of some sort is involved and where it does make a difference whether a book is printed in English or in Sanskrit” (Spikins and Needham 2018).

The main purpose of a bibliography

Therefore, research is fundamental to different fields of study be it science, arts, commerce, etc. The medical field is also largely dependent on research for amendments in the legislative provisions enactment of new provisions and advancement of the overall legal system. The bibliography in a work is place at the end of the work. It serves as a condensed source for the readers to know which works have been consulted and also allows list for further research involves specifying each work referred, while putting together or preparing a research piece (paper or article, note etc). The various works consulted are arranged by the authors’ name, same format use, surname to be kept in the beginning. The bibliography in case of legal research generally includes Dictionaries, Encyclopaedia, Journals, Digests, Statutes/Arts, Reports of Law Commissions and case law.

The History of the Subject

The history of medicine is a both a study of medicine throughout history as well as a multidisciplinary field of study that seeks to explore and understand medical practices, both past and present, throughout human societies (Kushner. 2008).

More than just history and medicine, this field of study incorporates learning from across disciplines such as anthropology, economics, health sciences, sociology, and politics to better understand the institutions, practices, people, professions, and social systems that have influenced and shaped medicine throughout the ages (Spikins and Needham, 2018).

Spikins and Needham (2018) further looked at the documentations of medicine over time, the history of medicine shows how societies have changed in their approach to illness and disease from ancient times to the present. Early medical traditions include those of Babylon, China, Egypt and India. The Hippocratic Oath was written in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, and is a direct inspiration for oaths of office that physicians swear upon entry into the profession today. In the middle Ages, surgical practices inherited from the ancient masters were improved and then systematized in Rogerius’s The Practice of Surgery. Universities began systematic training of physicians around 1220 CE in Italy.

Invention of the microscope was a consequence of improved understanding, during the Renaissance. Prior to the 19th century, humorism (also known as humoralism) was thought to explain the cause of disease but it was gradually replaced by the germ theory of disease, leading to effective treatments and even cures for many infectious diseases. Military doctors advanced the methods of trauma treatment and surgery. Public health measures were developed especially in the 19th century as the rapid growth of cities required systematic sanitary measures. Advanced research centers opened in the early 20th century, often connected with major hospitals. The mid-20th century was characterized by new biological treatments, such as antibiotics. These advancements, along with developments in chemistry, genetics, and radiography led to modern medicine. Medicine was heavily professionalized in the 20th century, and new careers opened to women as nurses (from the 1870s) and as physicians (especially after 1970). (Staff, 2007).

Van Duinen A.,Cobb N. and Mansaray (2017) talk about the breakthrough to professionalisation based on knowledge of advanced medicine was led by Florence Nightingale in England. She resolved to provide more advanced training than she saw on the Continent. At Kaiserswerth, where the first German nursing schools were founded in 1836 by Theodor Fliedner, she said, “The nursing was nil and the hygiene horrible.” (Kushner, 2008).  Britain’s male doctors preferred the old system, but Nightingale won out and her Nightingale Training School opened in 1860 and became a model. The Nightingale solution depended on the patronage of upper-class women, and they proved eager to serve. Royalty became involved. In 1902 the wife of the British king took control of the nursing unit of the British army, became its president, and renamed it after herself as the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps; when she died the next queen became president. Today its Colonel in Chief is Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the daughter-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. In the United States, upper-middle-class women who already supported hospitals promoted nursing. The new profession proved highly attractive to women of all backgrounds, and schools of nursing opened in the late 19th century. They were soon a function of large hospitals (clarification needed), where they provided a steady stream of low-paid idealistic workers. The International Red Cross began operations in numerous countries in the late 19th century, promoting nursing as an ideal profession for middle-class women (Kushner, 2008).

Healthcare in Sierra Leone is generally charged for and is provided by a mixture of government, private and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). There are over 100 NGOs operating in the health care sector in Sierra Leone. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation is responsible for organizing health care and after the end of the civil war the ministry changed to a decentralized structure of health provision to try to increase its coverage. (Ministry of Health and Sanitation annual reports, 2021).

The Sierra Leone health care system is organised into two tiers of care: Peripheral Healthcare Units (PHUs) with an extended community health programme and secondary care which includes twenty-one (21) district and three referral hospitals; there are also forty-five (45) private clinics and twenty-seven (27) private hospitals, mostly in the Freetown area (Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 2017-21).

The PHUs are further subdivided into maternal and child health posts serving a population of 500–5000, Community Health Posts serving a population of 5000–10 000 staffed by State-Enrolled Community Health Nurses (SECHNs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) at chiefdom level serving. Postgraduate training in family medicine (FM) within Sierra Leone is accredited by the West African College of Physicians and owes a great deal to Drs Patrick Coker, Effie Gooding, Lynnette Palmer and Kojo Carew. Dr Coker set up postgraduate training in 2006 and Dr Palmer was the first Sierra Leonean trained consultant, followed by Dr Buck. Drs Palmer and Gooding helped establish FM as part of the undergraduate course. Until recently, postgraduate training was based in a private hospital, but in November 2018, it was moved to the government health service at Connaught Hospital in Freetown with the department based in the emergency centre – in keeping with the West African norm. This seems like a very positive move in that the government health service should benefit from the values and skills that FM brings to health care and FM will develop an academic base within a teaching institution, but it possibly comes at the cost of some loss of connection with the community health services. At present, Dr Adekunle (from Nigeria) is the head of department and there are four residents.

Here are five advantages of reading medicine in university:

• People will have diverse Medical career opportunities
• Find Medicine jobs anywhere in the world
• Alleviate people’s pain and suffering
• Doctors are in high demand
• Careers in healthcare offer high salaries and job safety
• Find new cures and medicine through medical research (Mallory (2002).

Objectives of bibliography

The main objective of a bibliography entry is to give credit to authors whose work you have consulted in your research.

It also makes it easy for a reader to find out more about your topic by delving into the research that you used to write your paper

The bibliography as a source or reference sources for research has to wide in scope to include different aspect of publication. Be it books or articles.

The bibliography has a wide coverage which list books and articles on law from different countries and different continent at large (ALA, 2019).

Staff (2007) further looked at the entries and reasons for these entries as a format in the bibliography as follows:

• The language in which the bibliography is written is English.
• It is written in English because is widely spoken especially for my present users of the bibliography.
• As my country Sierra Leone is English speaking country and that most of our academic research is done in English. So, I have to compile my bibliography in English.
• The bibliography is wide in scope. It is a list of references in books and articles on both online and printed which are related to law. The purpose is to have a varied choice in researching for law materials.
• The bibliography is alphabetically arranged by noting the sources which are categories with primary source (medical cases) listed first followed by secondary sources (books and articles etc). The author’s names are inverted. Surname appears first followed by the initial of the first name and then a common (,).
• The classification that is used in compiling is Dewey decimal classification as it is most widely use system of classification scheme.
• The bibliography is also catalogue according to Anglo-American Catalogue Rule by listing the surname of the author first follow by his or her other name(s). It is the simplest and commonly used systems.
• The bibliography also includes American Indexing System for easy access of each reference in bibliography.

There are also abbreviations in the bibliography in each reference such as:

• No…………………………..number
• V…………………………….volume
• P………………………………page
• ill……………………………..illustration
• port ………………………….portrait
• pbk……………………………paper back etc (ALA, 2019).

The users of my bibliography in medical materials are but not limited to the following such as researchers who are looking for medical materials such as HIV, health and your community. Such people may want to know medical issue related to countries and its people will consult the bibliography for medical research purposes.

In addition, are those who have medical related issues? Such people may want to do a thorough research on the health status without seen medical practitioners.

Another group of people used medical bibliography as students reading medicines as a subject. Such students may have an assignment on medicines; bibliography on medical materials can serve as a first port of call in doing their research.

Medical bibliography will be very much significant to serve as a pointer as it lists a large amount of references. It will help the people to locate the right materials on both books and articles related to medical related issues.

Finally, another set of people are nurses and doctors who are professionals. Those people may want to know about the past medical history of patients and want to use the same medical treatment to take care of related sickness, will consult a medical bibliography to gather more information and use it as a guide to treat that patient.

This annotated bibliography of reference works or “secondary sources” in the history of medicine was prepared to assist people interested in reading or writing about medical history. The list includes comprehensive bibliographies of primary sources (original printed works and manuscripts), secondary sources (historical or derivative works), general histories of medicine, and collected biographies of physicians and medical scientists. Covai (2002) compiled lists articles and books that discuss the year books (and the abridgments) or employ them as principal source. The following below are list of sixty (60) bibliographies in medicine / medical books:

METHODOLOGY

This study adopts a qualitative and documentary research methodology, utilizing both historical analysis and bibliographic compilation techniques to explore the role of bibliography in the field of medicine. The methodology comprises three key components:

1. Document Analysis: Primary and secondary literature on the history and evolution of bibliography, especially in the context of medical sciences, was critically examined. Sources include academic journals, historical documents, encyclopedias, bibliographic manuals, and reports from authoritative bodies such as the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (Sierra Leone), the American Library Association (ALA), and various medical historians.
2. Annotated Bibliographic Compilation: A structured and categorized list of sixty (60) bibliographic references relevant to the medical field was curated. The classification was based on the Dewey Decimal Classification System, Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR), and the American Indexing System, ensuring consistency and international accessibility. The entries are arranged alphabetically by authors’ surnames, and the annotations include relevant bibliographic metadata such as volume, edition, page numbers, and special features (e.g., illustrations, portraits).
3. Contextual Analysis of Medical Bibliography in Sierra Leone: The study integrates a focused examination of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system as a case study. It assesses the significance of medical bibliographies in supporting national health planning, policy formulation, medical education, and research. This includes a review of government publications and contributions by local and regional experts in family medicine and public health.

The approach was inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as library science, medical history, sociology, and public health. This methodological framework enabled a comprehensive understanding of how bibliographic work supports academic inquiry, medical education, and the professional development of healthcare providers.

Bibliographic Selection Criteria

The selection of bibliographic entries in this study was guided by a combination of academic, practical, and technical criteria to ensure relevance, credibility, and utility for users engaged in medical research and practice. The following key criteria were applied:

1. Relevance to the Subject Matter: Sources was selected based on their direct relation to the fields of medical history, bibliography, library and information science, and healthcare systems, particularly with a focus on Sierra Leone and broader global contexts. Both primary and secondary sources that significantly contribute to the understanding of medical bibliography were included.
2. Authoritative Sources: Works by recognized experts, medical historians, academic institutions, and professional bodies (e.g., ALA, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, West African College of Physicians) were prioritized. This ensures that the bibliography reflects credible, peer-reviewed, and institutionally endorsed content.
3. Language Accessibility: Selected works were written in English, as it is the official language of Sierra Leone and the primary language used in its academic and professional medical communication. This choice enhances usability and accessibility for the intended users of the bibliography.
4. Format and Medium: Print and digital sources were considered. These include books, journal articles, official reports, encyclopedias, and digitized archives. Sources had to be identifiable and accessible through established academic libraries or digital databases.
5. Categorization by Source Type: Entries were organised into:

• • Primary sources: Original medical texts, historical documents, government health reports, and case studies.
  • Secondary sources: Books, articles, and reviews interpreting or analyzing primary medical sources and bibliographic theories.

6. Bibliographic Standards: The organisation and formatting of entries adhered to established cataloguing and classification systems:

• • Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) for subject-based arrangement.
  • Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) for naming conventions, especially author name inversion (surname first).
  • American Indexing System for indexing and reference consistency.

      7. Scope and Coverage: The bibliography was designed to be broad in scope, including references from various geographical regions and historical periods, with a focus on medical issues relevant to Sierra Leone and similar contexts. Topics ranged from general medicine, nursing, public health, and epidemiology to specific diseases like HIV.

     8. Usability for Target Audience: The bibliography was compiled with the needs of medical students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and public health policymakers in mind. The selection focused on practical relevance for research, clinical application, or historical insight.

     7. Annotated Detail and Metadata Inclusion: Each bibliographic entry includes relevant metadata such as:

• Volume (V), Page (P), Illustration (ill.), Portrait (port.), and Paperback (pbk.)
• Edition and publication year
• Publisher and location where applicable

RESULT

1. Carpenito, J. L. (2002). Nursing Diagnosis: Application to Clinical Practice (9th ed.). Philadelphia: McGraw Hill.

xxv, 1270 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

This comprehensive reference provides a structured and concise outline of clinical nursing practices. It is designed to assist nurses by offering practical, evidence-based information without requiring an exhaustive review of existing literature. The text supports both students transitioning from theoretical knowledge to practice and experienced nurses seeking to refresh their clinical skills

2. Hunsley, J. (2014). Introduction to Clinical Psychology: An Evidence-Based Approach (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley and Sons.

xi, 643 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

A well-structured guide to clinical psychology, the book is valuable for future clinical psychologists and professionals in other fields. It is divided into three sections: foundational concepts, evidence-based assessment, and intervention strategies. The text emphasizes the importance of empirical methods in psychological healthcare.

3. Davison, G. C. (2010). Abnormal Psychology (4th Canadian ed.). Toronto: John Wiley and Sons Canada Ltd.

xxi, 664 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

This edition presents abnormal psychology from a Canadian perspective, blending clinical insight with empirical research. It examines mental disorders from multiple perspectives and continues the tradition of integrating science with practice.

4. Barlow, D. H. (2012). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (6th ed.). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.

xxv, 576 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

Barlow presents an integrative model for understanding psychological disorders, combining biological, psychological, and social influences. The book includes recent discoveries in genetic research and childhood development and reflects on their impact on psychopathology.

5. Fleckenstein, P. (2001). Anatomy in Diagnostic Imaging (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Blackwell Publishing.

416 p.: illus.; 28 cm.

This text provides a thorough overview of diagnostic imaging techniques used in clinical settings. It includes illustrations and interpretations of images across all body systems, including intrauterine life and age-related changes in bone structure.

6. Fortinash, K. M. (2003). Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans (4th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

xii, 404 p.: illus.; 26 cm.

Combining insights from psychiatric-mental health nursing and psychiatry, this guide offers a scientific and compassionate approach to patient care. It aligns technological advancements in mental health with the interpersonal dimensions of nursing.

7. Jensen, S. (2011). Nursing Health Assessment: A Best Practice Approach. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xxx, 967 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

This modern guide integrates traditional and progressive techniques in nursing assessments. It teaches students how to adapt clinical questioning, analyze findings, and apply diagnostic reasoning through case-based learning and critical thinking exercises.

8. 8. Lowdermilk, D. L. (2003). Maternity Nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

xiii, 829 p.: illus.; 23 cm.

A comprehensive textbook focusing on women’s reproductive health, this edition addresses childbirth, neonatal care, and women’s health promotion. It emphasizes critical thinking and competency development for nursing students across varied programs.

9. Marieb, E. N. (2000). Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). San Francisco: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.

xviii, 558 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

Designed for students in allied health, this book introduces the human body’s structure and function. It includes updated content on immunology and clinical advances and features a new career-focused approach to make the material more applicable to real-world healthcare.

10. Smith, J. A., and Lee, R. T. (2020). The impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(5-6), 1012–1023.

Available at https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15234

xxv, 576 p.: illus.; 25 cm

This article by Smith and Lee (2020) examines the significant impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes, emphasizing evidence-based practices that improve the quality of clinical care. Published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing (Vol. 29, Issues 5-6), the study offers a thorough analysis of various nursing strategies and their effectiveness in enhancing recovery and health indicators across diverse patient populations.

11. GANONG, William F.

 ‘Review Medical physiology,’19^th ed., Stamford: Appleton and Lange, 1999. 851p.:illus.;23cm.

A perfect supplement for any medical student and it is the only book of its kind revised every other year, so it is guaranteed to have the most up-to-date information available. It covers the latest advances in physiology, including immunology, the enteric nervous system, circadian rhythms, and the control of the lower esophageal sphincter.

12. EARLY, Mary Beth

‘Mental Health Concepts and Techniques for the Occupational Therapy     

Assistant’, 2^nd ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven publishers, 1996.

xi,466p.:illus.;22cm.

The author designed this book to provide occupational therapy assistant student with basic foundation for the practice of occupational therapy for patients with mental health problems. In addition, the book may be of value to certified occupational therapy assistants who wish to enter psychiatric practice. it also a resource book for registered therapists with supervisory and administrative roles in metal health settings who wish to explore further the delineation between professional and technical levels of responsibility.

13. CHANAN-KHAN, Asher A. A. (2011). Immunomodulating Drugs for the treatment of Cancer, Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xiv,299p.:illus.;27cm.

Immunomodulating agents are a new class of antineoplastic agents that include thalidomide and its more potent analog, lenalidomide and pomalidomide. These non-chemotherapeutic agents have demonstrated potent antitumor activity in various malignant disorders. Their availability has clearly made an important impact in  the lives of cancer patients.  It is hope that this textbook will bring the most current information on these novel compounds to clinicians and scientists to develop this class of drugs further for the treatment of malignant disorders.

14. BONO, C. (2010). Prove it! evidence-based analysis of common spine practice, Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

ix,292p.:illus.;25cm.

Evidence-based medicine was initially defined and is currently perceived as “the explicit, judicious, and conscientious use of current best evidence from health care research in decisions about the care of individuals and populations”. Though often consider the antithesis of Evidence-based medicine, textbooks continue to be a highly utilised and succinct educational resource for practicing spine surgeons, fellows and residents. Considering this, it was intentional to bridge the gap between conventional textbook and Evidence-based medicine practice, in which an author diligently prepares a narrative review about a particular topic, the authors of prove it! did something uniquely different.

15. FAHEY, T. D. (2009). Fit and well: core concepts and labs in physical fitness and wellness, 8^th ed.,Boston: McGraw-Hill.

xix,434p.:illus.;25cm.

Fit and well combines the best two worlds. In the area of physical fitness, fit and well offers expert knowledge based on the latest findings in exercise physiology and sports medicine, along with tools for self-assessment and guidelines for becoming fit. In the area for wellness, it offers accurate, current information on today’s most important health related topics and issues, again with self-tests and guidelines for achieving wellness. This book drawn on a combined expertise and experience in exercise physiology, athletic training, personal health, scientific research and teaching.

16. YOUNG, A. P. (2007). The Medical Assistant: an applied learning approach, 10^th ed’., Saunders: Elsevier.

xv,1425p.:illus.;25cm.

The medical field is ever-changing one, with constant advances in diagnostic procedures and treatment protocols. To build on the long-lasting strengths of the textbook, the tenth edition expands and supplements the techniques used. The medical assistant incorporates a unique approach that is reflected in the subtitle: an applied learning approach. It is believed that learning takes place only when students are engaged and when the learning requires something from them in response to information that is being imparted to them.

17. Meyer, R. G. and Quenzer, L. F. (2013). Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior (2nd ed.), Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc.

xviii, 514 pages; illus.; 26 cm

This textbook provides an in-depth exploration of the relationship between drugs, brain function, and behavior. The second edition has been updated with the latest scientific discoveries in psychopharmacology, offering students and professionals a thorough understanding of how psychotropic drugs affect the nervous system. Emphasizing both fundamental principles and clinical applications, it is designed to be an essential resource for students in neuroscience, psychology, and pharmacology

18. YOUSEM, D. M. (2006). Head and neck imaging: case review series, 2^nd ed’., Philadelphia: Mosby.

xiii,321p.:illus.;27cm.

The second edition of the Head and Neck Imaging: case review supply two hundred new cases with no overlapping images from the previous edition even and was written between two salient events. There is greater emphasis on differential diagnoses and more detail on treatment or workups of the pathologic entities.

19. TURGEON, M. L. (2012). Clinical Hematology: theory and procedures, 5^th ed’., Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer,

xii,612p.:illus.;27cm.

Written for medical laboratory science and medical laboratory technician students, the fifth edition of Clinical Hematology continues to set the standard for laboratory science textbooks. The textbook continues with the innovation expansion of exciting molecular discoveries that assumed importance in the 4^th ed.

20. SHIER, David

‘Hole’s human anatomy and physiology, 8^th ed’., Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1999.xxxiv,1047p.:illus.;27cm.

As you read this book, you will begin to learn how the human body maintains life by studying two major areas of medical science, anatomy and physiology. Anatomy deals with the structures of the body parts, what are their forms and how are they arranged? Physiology considers the functions of these body parts, what do they do, and how do they do it?

21. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

(5th ed.), Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing

xxiv, 947 pages; illus.; 24 cm

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), is the authoritative guide used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders. This edition represents the culmination of a comprehensive revision process reflecting advances in scientific research and clinical practice. It aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate research, and provide a common language for mental health professionals globally.

22. Bowers, Clint A. , Beidel, Deborah C,. Horan , K. and, Marks, M.  (2022). Mental Health and Wellness in Healthcare Workers: Identifying Risks, Prevention, and Treatment Hershey, PA: IGI Global

xxiv, 321 pages; illus.; 24 cm  Avilable at. openlibrary.org+8igi-global.com+8uk.elsevierhealth.com+8

This volume gathers cutting-edge research on occupational stress, burnout, and mental health challenges among healthcare workers. It highlights contemporary issues such as COVID‑19, offering evidence-based interventions, risk assessments, leadership strategies, mindfulness methods, and tools for building resilience in clinical environments.

23. Catherine Gamble and Geoff Brennan (2023). Working With Serious Mental Illness: A Manual for Clinical Practice (3rd ed.), London Elsevier Health Sciences

xiii, 427 pages; illus.; 24 cm. Available at

Framed by both lived experiences and clinical evidence, this manual equips nurses and allied health professionals working with serious mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. It emphasizes trauma-informed care, patient-centered approaches, self-care for practitioners, and enhancement of clinical skills and outcomes.

24. CATALANO, J. T. (2003). Nursing now! Today’s issues tomorrow’s trends, 3^rd ed’., Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.

xiv,504p.:illus.;23cm.

The book prepare  nurses to work in a changing health-care settings that are faced with ever increasing demands to learn more, do more and be more. The overall purpose of the book remains the presentation of an overview and synthesis of the important issues and trends that are basic to the development of professional nursing and affect nursing that are used doth at the beginning of the student’s educational process as the basic for an “introduction to nursing” course and toward the end of the process as part of an “issues and trends” course. Nursing Students remain the primary intended audience for nursing now.

25. MALAMED, S F. (2007). Medical emergencies in the dental office, 6^th ed’., St. Luis: Mosby.

xii,556p.:illus.;27cm.

The basic format of the textbook based on clinical signs and symptoms rather than on a systems-oriented approach remains quite well received. Management of medical emergencies occurring in the dental environment may be preventable through implementation of a system of patient evalution, treatment modification and management.

26. MARQUIS, B. L. (2003). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: theory and application, 4^th ed’., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

xxx,651p.:illus.;23cm.

Leadership roles and management functions in nursing was also influenced by national events in business and finance. Events that have led many to believe that a lack of leadership in management is widespread, it has become apparent that if managers are to function effectively in the rapidly changing healthcare industry, enhanced leadership and management skills needed.

27. MARIEB, E. N. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology, San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings Publishing.

xv,976p.:illus;24cm.

This book is meant to be a guide to the understanding of you own body, not an encyclopaedia of human anatomy and physiology. The illustrations and designed with the learning needs in mind encouraged students understand the structure of an organ, tissue, or a cell as a prerequisite to comprehending its function. The fundamental concepts of physiology are carefully explained and related to structural characteristics that promote or allow the various functions to occur. The textbook includes line drawings and approximately 3500 test questions in varied formats: multiple choice, matching, short answer, and easy.

28. POZZULA, J. (2009). Forensic psychology’, 2^nd ed., Toronto: Pearson, xvi,477p.:illus.;25cm.

The second edition of Forensic psychology taken a broad-based perspective that both experiment and clinical topic and incorporate many new developments by theorist and researcher. The textbook covers topic that might otherwise be discussed in traditional, social and cognitive psychology courses including eyewitness testimony, jury decision making and police procedure as well as topics that are clinical in nature and might otherwise be discussed in traditional personality or abnormal psychology courses such as the meaning of being unfit to stand trial, mentally disordered offenders and psychopathy.

29. Daniel Fu Keung Wong (2006). Clinical Case Management for People with: A Biopsychosocial Vulnerability-Stress Model. Routledge (Taylor & Francis): London, 275 p.; illus.; 24 cm. Available at http///www elsevierhealth.com+10routledge.com+10taylorfrancis.com+10.

Based on a biopsychosocial vulnerability-stress framework, this handbook supports practitioners in assessing and managing mental illness through holistic understanding. Filled with real case examples, checklists, and tools, it empowers multi-professional mental health teams to improve intervention outcomes for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

30 Momoh, Ibrahim Sahr, et al. (2024). Innovative Management of Non‑Communicable Disease in a Low‑Income Country: Supporting Nurses and Midwives to Set Up and Manage a Nurse‑Led Diabetes Clinic at Bo Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. Freetown, Sierra Leone: African Journal of Health, Nursing and Midwifery (AJHNM)15p.  digital PDF Online Availability: abjournals.org

This case-based report presents a pioneering approach to managing non-communicable diseases in a resource-limited setting. It documents the successful development of a nurse- and midwife-led diabetes care clinic at Bo Government Hospital, emphasizing locally driven leadership, task-shifting, and patient-centered care. The study highlights the importance of empowering nurses and midwives to lead chronic disease interventions, thereby improving access to care and patient outcomes in rural and underserved communities. This work is a critical contribution to evidence-based nursing practice and health system strengthening in Sierra Leone.

31.Kawa, Shiaka. (2012). Managerial Competencies of the Health Workforce in Sierra Leone. Saarbrücken: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing   100 p.;ill.; 23 cm.

This book examines the essential managerial skills required by Sierra Leone’s health workforce, including nurses, midwives, and healthcare leaders. Drawing from local case studies, it explores issues such as resource constraints, human resource limitations, and leadership capacity. The book identifies critical training needs and offers a framework of managerial competencies essential for healthcare professionals operating in Sierra Leone’s fragile health system. It supports capacity-building efforts and aims to strengthen policy and practice in workforce development.

32. FORTINASH, K. M. (2014). Psychiatric mental health nursing 3^rd ed’., St. Louis: Mosby.

xxv,719p.:illus.;27cm.

This textbook provides up-to-date, comprehensive and straightforward coverage of psychiatric nursing. Using a balanced nursing-medical approach and presenting strong baseline coverage of the DSM-IV-TR and related treatments, this book continues to focus on what nurses actually do. Fundamental concepts such as psychobiology, legal and ethical implications, and   cultural and spiritual issues are introduced early on, followed by chapters devoted to specific psychiatric treatment modalities and other relevant issues.

33. SHIVES, Louise R. (1998). Basic concepts of psychiatric-mental health nursing, 4th ed’. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company

xxvii,685p.illus.;23cm.

This book offer the best in nursing process criteria , intervention strategies, clinical tips and research application along with coverage of managed care and insurance issues, cultural considerations, and psychopharmacologic guidelines. The goal of this text is to present the concepts used in psychiatric-mental health nursing briefly and succinctly so that this “core” textbook can also be used by practicing nurses and other mental health professional.

34. Liley, L. L. (2005). Pharmacology and the nursing process, 4^th ed’., St. Louis: Mosby,

xxiii,1025p.:illus.;27cm.

This textbook offers a student-centered approach to pharmacology, integrating study skills to support comprehension of complex material. Each section begins with practical study strategies grounded in educational research, directly applied to pharmacological content. Organized into 10 parts comprising 57 chapters, the book is structured around body systems, enhancing its relevance for nursing practice and pharmacological application.

35. Pearson, H., Campbell, D., Sesay, D. and Eaton, J. (2015). Factors for success in mental health advocacy in Sierra Leone. Freetown: Sierra Leone Mental Health Coalition. 80 p.: illus.; 23 cm. Available Online at https://www.cbm.org/article/downloads/54741/Mental_Health_Coalition_Factors_for_Success_Final_Report_CBM_2015.pdf.

This report delves into the critical factors contributing to successful mental health advocacy in Sierra Leone, emphasizing the pivotal roles of community involvement and policy development. Through a collaborative approach, the authors examine the dynamics between mental health stakeholders, government entities, and the community, identifying key enablers and barriers to effective advocacy. The findings aim to inform future strategies for enhancing mental health services and support systems in Sierra Leone, ensuring a more inclusive and responsive mental health framework.

36. Swiontkowski, M. F. (2013). Manual of orthopaedics, 7^th ed., Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xi,591p.:illus.;19cm.

This textbook provides quick access to the orthopaedic information needed to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries and diseases with confidence. The book completes the conversion of the manual from one focused on medical students and residents to adding the audience of emergency room provider, urgent care providers, and primary care providers.

37. Taylor, G. (2019). Sierra Leone Healthcare Workers’ Perspectives on Their Mental Health During the Ebola Outbreak. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

xii, 220 p.: illus.; 24 cm.

This book examines the profound mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers in Sierra Leone during the devastating Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016. Drawing on first-hand accounts, interviews, and psychological assessments, it highlights not only the immense psychological toll on frontline medical staff but also their remarkable resilience and coping strategies. By exploring these experiences in depth, the book aims to inform policymakers, mental health professionals, and humanitarian organizations on how best to support healthcare workers during public health crises. This work contributes to the broader understanding of mental health in resource-limited settings and provides valuable insights for strengthening psychological support systems in future outbreaks.

38 . Lankester, Ted (2008). Community Health Programmes: A Practical Manual Use in Developing Countries. London: Macmillan Publishers Limited.

viii, 425 p.: illus.; 20 cm.

Community health programs play a vital role in improving health outcomes in developing countries by addressing local needs through practical, sustainable approaches. This manual is designed to be a comprehensive guide for health professionals, community workers, and program managers involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community health initiatives.

Drawing on extensive field experience and evidence-based strategies, the book provides practical tools and methodologies to design effective health programs tailored to diverse cultural, social, and economic contexts. While not specific to any one country, the principles and practices outlined here have been widely adopted in many developing regions, including Sierra Leone, to strengthen primary health care services.

39. Morton, L. (2011). A Bibliography of Medical and Biomedical Biography, Philadelphia: Walters Kluwer.

xiii,528p.:illus.;27cm.

This new third edition of A Bibliography of Medical and Biomedical Biography details readily available sources of information in the English language on significant figures in the history of medicine and the biomedical sciences. Archival collections are also noted and a representative selection of general and specialised histories is included. This new edition features more than 1300 new entries, plus updates and amendments to previous entries. Also included, as far as possible, are the names of individuals recorded in Morton and Moore’s Chronology of Medicine and Related Sciences (Ashgate, 1997). This bibliography remains an essential guide to the life and works of individuals who have contributed to the development of medicine and the biomedical sciences.

40. JOHN, W. L. (2000). Selection of basic laboratory equipment for Laboratories with limited resources. Alexandria: World Health Organisation.

295p.:illus.;22cm.

This book provides a framework within which laboratory workers in developing countries can choose equipment and consumables. The book is addresses to two groups of people with different degrees of technical expertise and responsibilities. The first group is the laboratory staff working in developing countries. The second group is the staff involved in laboratory supplies procurement, such as hospital administrators, central stores offeres and laboratory supplies procurement officers,

41. Lankester, T. (2008). Setting up community health programmes: A practical manual for use in developing countries (3rd ed.). Berkeley: Hesperian Foundation.

xii, 426 p.:ill.;25cm.

In this comprehensive manual, Ted Lankester provides practical guidance on establishing and managing community-based health programs in both urban and rural settings. Drawing on extensive experience, the author outlines step-by-step strategies for setting up health clinics, implementing immunization and maternal health programs, addressing childhood illnesses, and promoting environmental health improvements. The book emphasizes community involvement, sustainability, and the integration of local resources, making it an invaluable resource for health workers, program managers, and policymakers aiming to improve health outcomes in developing countries

42. Johnson, M. S. (2018). Healing the Nation: Sierra Leone’s Post-War Reconstruction. Freetown: University of Sierra Leone Press.

cclxxx, 280 p.: ill.; 23 cm. Available online at: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137572349

This interdisciplinary work examines Sierra Leone’s post-civil war reconstruction through the lenses of political science, sociology, and history. Johnson analyzes the nation’s recovery strategies, focusing on reconciliation, governance, and social cohesion. Through detailed policy analysis and illustrative use of maps and photographs, the book offers a compelling narrative of both the challenges and progress in rebuilding national identity. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, development professionals, and policymakers working on post-conflict recovery in West Africa and beyond.

43. Rosenzweig, M. (2005). Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (4th ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, Inc.

v, 621 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This text delves into the biological foundations of human behavior and experience, exploring how physiological processes govern cognition and behavior and, conversely, how environmental factors impact bodily systems. While biology is discussed broadly, the focus remains firmly on human behavior.

44. Koroma, J. T. (2017). HIV/AIDS and Development in Sierra Leone. Freetown: Sierra Leone Academic Press.

ccxx, 220 p.: illus.; 21 cm. Available online at:  https://www.sierraacademicpress.sl/books/hivaids-development-sierra-leone

This monograph examines the HIV/AIDS epidemic’s socio-economic effects on Sierra Leone. Based on field research, government reports, and interviews with healthcare providers and affected families, it analyzes how the disease influences community structures, economic productivity, education, stigma, and treatment access. Rich in statistics and case studies, it offers insights valuable to policymakers, researchers, and students.

45. Boyd, Mary A. (2005). Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xxi, 950 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

An authoritative textbook on psychiatric mental health nursing, examining etiology, risk factors, assessment, and interventions. It emphasizes evidence-based principles and integrates theoretical frameworks underpinning contemporary mental health nursing.

46. Farmer, Paul E. (2020). (2020). Health Care Systems in Developing Countries. New York: Routledge.

xi, 350 p.: illus.; 24 cm. Available online at: https://www.routledge.com/Health-Care-Systems-in-Developing-Countries/Farmer/p/book/9780367204561

Farmer presents a comprehensive overview of health systems in low-resource contexts, using case studies and fieldwork to explore how economic, political, cultural, and social factors shape healthcare delivery and outcomes.

47. Rau Jr, Joseph L. (2002). Respiratory Care Pharmacology (6th ed.). New York: Mosby.

xx, 492 p.: illus.; 25 cm.

A detailed reference on respiratory care medications, updated to include new drugs and current information on bronchodilators, mucoactive agents, asthma medications, cardiovascular, and circulatory drugs.

48. Ackley, Betty J. (2002). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care (8th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

xvii, 937 p.: illus.; 23 cm.

This handbook offers practical guidance for nurses to develop accurate nursing diagnoses and care plans. It emphasizes correlating patient data with standardized diagnoses and treatment plans to enhance competence in clinical settings.

49. Boyd, Mary Ann. (2005). Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xviii, 902 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This edition builds upon the biopsychosocial model, focusing on mental health promotion, assessment, and interventions. It integrates research evidence and emphasizes care across age groups, including adults, children, and families.

50. Boulware, Dennis W. (2012). Rheumatology: Primary Care. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

ix, 309 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

Designed for primary care providers, this guide addresses diagnosis and management of common rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. It offers accessible and practical content for an aging patient population prone to arthritis and related disorders.

51. Gutierrez, Kathleen Jo. (2002). Pathophysiology. Boston: Saunders.

xviii, 462 p.: illus.; 20 cm.

This foundational text equips nursing professionals with knowledge of disease mechanisms to better anticipate complications. It covers pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical presentation, prognosis, treatment, and patient education responsibilities.

52. Dorovic, Gloria Oblouk. (2002). Hemodynamic Monitoring: Invasive and Noninvasive Clinical Application (3rd ed.).

xxii, 676 p.: illus.; 20 cm.

This interdisciplinary guide covers both fundamental and advanced hemodynamic monitoring techniques. It is intended for bedside practitioners, focusing on patient care using both invasive and noninvasive methods.

53. World Health Organization. (2004). Surgical Care at the District Hospital. Geneva: World Health Organization.

x, 179 p.: illus.; 28 cm.

Developed for district-level hospitals, this manual addresses surgical needs in trauma, obstetrics, abdominal, and orthopedic emergencies. It supports non-specialist practitioners with training and education tools to improve surgical and anesthesia care.

54. Rolfes, Sharon Rady. (2006). Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition (7th ed.). London: Wadsworth.

xix, 903 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This book is a rich resource for dietetics and nursing professionals, blending nutrition fundamentals with clinical applications. It includes learning aids and focuses on normal and clinical nutrition in healthcare settings.

55. Guinn, Denise. (2014). Essentials of General, Organic, and Biochemistry: An Integrated Approach (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman.

xxv, 683 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This integrated chemistry textbook connects general, organic, and biochemistry to healthcare contexts. Featuring clinical cases, healthcare applications, and problem-solving aids, it prepares students for chemistry’s role in their future careers.

56. HOCKENBERRY, Wilson ‘Nursing care of infants and children, 7^th ed’., St. Louis: Mosby, 2003.xxxviii,1994p.:illus.;27cm.

This textbook has been a land mark book in pediatric nursing and is about families with children and the philosophy of family-centered care that is emphasized. The book is also about providing atraumatic care, care that minimizes the psychologic and physical stress that health promotion and illness can inflict and encourage student think critically. Also, the text serves as a reference manual for the practicing nurse in order to provide the quality nursing care.

57. Wong, Donna L. (2002). Maternal Child Nursing Care (2nd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

xx, 1708 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This comprehensive textbook equips nursing students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to provide effective and compassionate care to women and children during childbearing and developmental years. It addresses evolving needs in maternal and pediatric care and emphasizes the development of clinical sensitivity and competence in nursing practice.

58. Watters, David A. K. (2004). Care of the Critically Ill Patient in the Tropics (2nd ed.). Oxford: Macmillan Publishers.

xiii, 466 p.: illus.; 20 cm.

A practical, multidisciplinary manual focused on managing critically ill patients in tropical and resource-limited settings. Designed for medical and nursing students, as well as healthcare staff in rural hospitals and clinics, this guide emphasizes problem-solving in situations lacking specialist support. It covers critical care in medical, surgical, obstetric, and intensive care contexts relevant to tropical regions.

59. Gökden, Murat. (2013). Neuropathologic Evaluation: From Pathologic Features to Diagnosis. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

xii, 542 p.: illus.; 27 cm.

This resource highlights the essential role of thorough clinical and pathological evaluation in reaching accurate neuropathologic diagnoses. The book focuses on practical applications of neuropathology, guiding practitioners from symptom presentation through to microscopic diagnosis using real-world diagnostic practices and criteria.

60. Lankester, Ted. (2008). Community Health Programmes: A Practical Manual for Use in Developing Countries (3rd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers Limited.

viii, 425 p.: illus.; 20 cm.

This manual serves as a vital tool for health professionals engaged in primary care across developing countries. Targeted at doctors, nurses, and community health workers, it provides practical guidance on initiating, managing, and sustaining effective health care programs. It addresses the challenges of delivering healthcare in low-resource environments, with a focus on community-based approaches.

Thematic Index (Entries 1–60)

Categorized by Subject Area / Theme

Mental Health, Psychiatry and Psychology

Nursing Practice and Clinical Care

Public, Community & Global Health

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology

Laboratory Science & Diagnostics

Nutrition & Biochemistry

Surgery & Critical Care

Medical History & Biography

Specialized Clinical Areas

Summary of Themes and Entries

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