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Evidence Searching Guidance

Plan Your Search

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As you begin, your search should consider:

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  • Your research topic/question.

  • Break down your topic into key concepts or categories to formulate a clear clinical question.The PICO process will help enable you to do this.

 

The clinical question needs to identify:

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Patient or population we intend to study

Intervention or treatment we plan to use

Comparison of one intervention to another

Outcome we anticipate

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​For further information on PICO please click here.

Search Strategy Checklist

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Once you have your research question you can  create a range of search terms:

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  • Synonyms, e.g.. aged; elderly

  • Acronyms, e.g. UTI

  • Differences in terminology across national boundaries, e.g. pediatrics/paediatrics.

  • Differences in spelling

  • Old/New terminology

  • Brand & generic names 

  • Law & medical terminology

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Also consider any limitations in your search:

  • Study type

  • Age range

  • Publication date

  • language...etc.​

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Search the Databases

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You can search the databases through the NHS Library and Knowledge Hub or directly on the OvidEBSCO, or ProQuest websites. 

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Other core resources include:

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You can use a grey literature database such as Open Grey or BASE.

Evidence Searching Online e-Learning Modules

These free online modules are designed to help the healthcare workforce (clinical and non-clinical) build confidence to search published literature for articles and evidence relevant to their work, study and research. The modules are short (each taking no more than 20 minutes to complete) and may be ‘dipped into’ for reference, or completed to obtain a certificate.

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Please note that you will need to register on the e-LfH website if you wish to record your activity. 

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There are seven modules suitable for novice searchers and those wishing to refresh their knowledge:

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Woman Enjoying a Book
Typing on laptop

Developing the skills

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  • Module 4 Too many results? How to narrow your search

  • Module 5 Too few results? How to broaden your search

  • Module 6 Searching with subject headings

Applying the skills

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  • Module 7 Searching the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub and bibliographic databases

HEE Literature Searching Guided Video

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