Effective Literature Searching for Evidence-Based Medicine
Searching the Evidence Base
Tom Osborne, Librarian
Literature Searching
Plan of Session
Introduction to the Library
OpenAthens registration
Formulating a search
Developing a search strategy
Searching the databases
2
Evidence Based Medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2a3o1-FuvY
True or False?
- Attaching a toad to your throat was a treatment for
internal bleeding?
- For baldness smear the head with juice of a beetle?
- Statins help prevent heart disease?
3
Introduction to the Library
4
Where we are?...What we offer…
Access via the library pages on
CONNECT
http://connect/Pages/default.aspx
OR via our
website:
http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/for-
clinicians/library-and-information-service
OpenAthens Registration
For access to all online resources you will need to register for
an NHS OpenAthens username/password
https://openathens.nice.org.uk/
You must register using a Trust PC
and your Trust email address
5
Formulating a Search
6
Take a look at the abstracts provided and highlight key terms
you might use for searching.
Search Strategy
“Is CPAP the best way to manage
paediatric patients with bronchiolitis?
Are there any randomised controlled
trials to support this?”
7
The PICO Approach
How can we transfer the results into a searchable structure?
Patient
or
Population
Intervention
or
Exposure
Outcomes
Comparisons
(if required)
WHO?
is the treatment
or procedure
being delivered
to?
WHAT?
is the condition
or problem?
WHAT?
is the treatment
or procedure
being delivered?
or
WHAT?
is happening to
the patient or
population?
HOW?
is the effect of
the intervention
or exposure
measured?
WHAT?
can be achieved?
HOW MUCH
BETTER?
is this procedure
than another?
or
BETTER THAN
WHAT?
what alternatives
are there?
8
“Is CPAP the best way to manage paediatric patients with
bronchiolitis? Are there any randomised controlled trials to
support this?”
Patient
or
Population
Intervention
or
Exposure
Outcomes
Comparisons
(if required)
WHO?
WHAT?
WHAT?
9
Searching the evidence
Where do you currently find your evidence?
The NHS subscribes to eight healthcare databases
Access via
NHS Evidence
https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/
Database Tips
11
AND
OR
Use AND in a search to:
•
narrow your results
•
t
e
l
l
t
h
e
d
a
t
a
b
a
s
e
t
h
a
t
A
L
L
s
e
a
r
c
h
t
e
r
m
s
m
u
s
t
b
e
p
r
e
s
e
n
t
i
n
t
h
e
r
e
s
u
l
t
i
n
g
r
e
c
o
r
d
s
•
example: cloning AND humans AND ethics
The purple triangle in the middle of the Venn
diagram below represents the result set for this
search. It is a small set using AND, the
combination of all three search words.
Use OR in a search to:
connect two or more similar concepts (synonyms)
broaden your results, telling the database that ANY
of your search terms can be present in the resulting
records
example: cloning OR genetics OR reproduction
All three circles represent the result set for this
search. It is a big set because any of those words
are valid using the OR operator
More Database Tips
Truncat* & “Bool* Operat*” - *, ADJ2, ?, “”,
Search ALL options but BE SPECIFIC
Limit by Date
Remove Duplicates
Sort Results
View Abstracts - Appraise
12
13
Find the Article!
14
What year was it published?
How can you tell if it’s any good?
Library outreach service
The library
Level 5, Education Centre
Upper Maudlin St
Tel. ext. 20105
Email. library@uhbristol.nhs.uk
15
Learn about effective literature searching techniques for evidence-based medicine, including library resources, search strategy development, access via OpenAthens, and utilizing the PICO approach for structured searches. Discover how to formulate searches, register for OpenAthens, and navigate library pages for credible information. Enhance your evidence-based practice skills and find reliable information to support clinical decision-making.
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Presentation Transcript
Literature Searching Searching the Evidence Base Tom Osborne, Librarian
Plan of Session Introduction to the Library OpenAthens registration Formulating a search Developing a search strategy Searching the databases 2
Evidence Based Medicine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2a3o1-FuvY True or False? - Attaching a toad to your throat was a treatment for internal bleeding? - For baldness smear the head with juice of a beetle? - Statins help prevent heart disease? 3
Introduction to the Library Where we are?...What we offer Access via the library pages on CONNECT http://connect/Pages/default.aspx OR via our website: http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/for- clinicians/library-and-information-service 4
OpenAthens Registration For access to all online resources you will need to register for an NHS OpenAthens username/password https://openathens.nice.org.uk/ You must register using a Trust PC and your Trust email address 5
Formulating a Search Take a look at the abstracts provided and highlight key terms you might use for searching. 6
Search Strategy Is CPAP the best way to manage paediatric patients with bronchiolitis? Are there any randomised controlled trials to support this? 7
The PICO Approach How can we transfer the results into a searchable structure? Patient or Population Intervention or Exposure Comparisons (if required) Outcomes WHO? is the treatment or procedure being delivered to? WHAT? is the treatment or procedure being delivered? HOW MUCH BETTER? is this procedure than another? HOW? is the effect of the intervention or exposure measured? or or WHAT? is the condition or problem? WHAT? can be achieved? WHAT? is happening to the patient or population? BETTER THAN WHAT? what alternatives are there? 8
Is CPAP the best way to manage paediatric patients with bronchiolitis? Are there any randomised controlled trials to support this? Patient or Population Intervention or Exposure Comparisons (if required) Outcomes WHO? WHAT? WHAT? 9
Searching the evidence Where do you currently find your evidence? The NHS subscribes to eight healthcare databases Access via NHS Evidence https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/
Database Tips OR AND Use AND in a search to: narrow your results tell the database that ALL search terms must be present in the resulting records example: cloning AND humans AND ethics The purple triangle in the middle of the Venn diagram below represents the result set for this search. It is a small set using AND, the combination of all three search words. Use OR in a search to: connect two or more similar concepts (synonyms) broaden your results, telling the database that ANY of your search terms can be present in the resulting records example: cloning OR genetics OR reproduction All three circles represent the result set for this search. It is a big set because any of those words are valid using the OR operator 11
More Database Tips Truncat* & Bool* Operat* - *, ADJ2, ?, , Search ALL options but BE SPECIFIC Limit by Date Remove Duplicates Sort Results View Abstracts - Appraise 12
Find the Article! What year was it published? How can you tell if it s any good? 14
Library outreach service The library Level 5, Education Centre Upper Maudlin St Tel. ext. 20105 Email. library@uhbristol.nhs.uk 15
