Middlesex University Learning Resources

Introduction to Literature Searching

(Finding the Evidence)

What Will We Be Doing Today?

• FIRSTLY…discuss what evidence is, where it may be found and how it should be evaluated

• THEN…carry out a search for journal literature using the Cinahl database

• FINALLY… have a go at searching for literature / evidence using the Internet

What Is Evidence?

“Information or signs indicating whether something is true or valid” Compact Oxford Dictionary for Students (2006)

You will need to provide appropriate evidence to support any claims or arguments made in your assignments

What Is Evidence-Based Practice?

“…involves the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about patient care…”

Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice (2005)

Where Do You Go To Find Evidence?

• books?

• the Internet?

• journals?

Books

good introduction to your subject area easy to use

be aware of publication date not primary research

The Internet

easy to use lots of results quickly

too many results! issues of accuracy, authority and timeliness

Journals

Specific areas covered and searchable via the databases

Research and evidence based resources

Keep you up to date with current professional practice leading to better patient care

Quality control (peer review process)

Peer Review

• Peer review is a core part of academic research. It is a formal procedure for checking the quality of research before it is published.

• If a publication is peer reviewed it means it has been read, checked and authenticated (reviewed) by independent, third party academics (peers).

• Peer review has been the quality-control system of academic publishing for hundreds of years.

Evaluation

It is important to evaluate your search results for relevance and quality i.e. Is it what you need and is it trustworthy?

This is especially important when using the Internet.

Do NOT trust information if you have not considered the following criteria:

• Currency (How old is this information? When was it last updated?)

• Authority (Who is the author, site creator, organisation etc?)

• Intent (What is the purpose of the website / information? e.g. financial gain etc)

• Relevance (Is this what I need? Will it answer my question?)

• Objectivity (Balanced view? Opposing views represented? etc)

In Today’s Session We Are Going

To Search For Literature On…

Health Promotion For

Childhood Obesity

Tasks 1 - 5

Go to the nursing database Cinahl and follow the instructions provided in your handout

Task 6

Go to NHS Evidence and follow the instructions provided in your handout

Task 7

Go to The Cochrane Library and follow the instructions provided in your handout

Task 8

Go to Intute and follow the instructions provided in your handout

Compare The Resources

• Cinahl• NHS Evidence• Cochrane Library• Intute

But It’s Not In The Library• Don’t worry…bring a completed Inter-Library Loan

Form to the Library Enquiry desk (http://www.lr.mdx.ac.uk/lib/services/docs/illform.pdf) with the bibliographic details of the article you want

• A photocopy of the article will be ordered for you from the British Library

• This can take approximately a week• There is a charge of £3 for this service (Please note

this service is not available at North Middlesex)

Other Libraries

• Sconul Access Scheme http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/access/

• RCN Library http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/library

Referencing

Or go to http://www.lr.mdx.ac.uk/helpsheets/study_skills/hss.pdf

From the Library’s Subject Guide for Nursing…

Select the ‘Getting Started’ tab and click on ‘Referencing and Citation Style Helpsheet’

For Further Help

• Telephone (Hendon Library Enquiry Desk) 0208 411 5852

• E-Mail (Jamie Halstead, Liaison Librarian) j.halstead@mdx.ac.uk