Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Introduction To Databases

Karen SmithDepartment of Health SciencesUniversity of York

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Introduction to Databases

Objectives:

Have practical experience in using the main health care databases including the Cochrane Library, Medline, Evidence-Based Nursing

  Have an overview of the range of databases

available and the ability to select one which is relevant to your needs

 

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

What Is A Bibliographic Database?

They store details from publications which include journals, conferences, letters, reviews etc

The details are displayed in the form of a record for each item

Sometimes an abstract (summary) is provided

May also link to full text

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

What Are Databases Used For? They are searchable using author name,

subject, title and year

Enable you to find articles on a subject

They allow you to search through a much larger number of articles than you could by hand

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Some Applications

Used to search for information to support essays

They are a fast way to search a large number of records and thus save you time

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Some Applications Ctd

Used to search for information to inform research projects

Used by clinicians and patients to inform nursing practice and acquire up to date information on treatment

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Choosing The Right Database

   

Selecting the right resource is crucial to literature searching

In health related topics there is a wide variety of different databases to choose from

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Choosing The Right Database Ctd

They can offer very different information

Each has its strengths and weaknesses e.g. Cinahl is stronger than Medline in a number of areas e.g. nursing

Some focus on narrow areas of interest e.g. PsycINFO

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Choosing The Right Database Ctd

Others focus on specific research methods e.g. Cochrane Library

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Coverage

Each database varies in coverage

Some overlap with others

Some may be subject specific whilst others could be multidisciplinary

Examples

Here are some databases we recommend you use to research your questions and topics:

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Examples Cochrane Library – in particular the

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Medline

Cinahl

Evidence Based Nursing Online

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Access Most databases can be accessed

using Metalibhttp://www.york.ac.uk/

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Access

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library

What is it? The Cochrane Library is an electronic

publication designed to supply high quality evidence to inform people providing and receiving care, and those responsible for research, teaching, funding and administration at all levels

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library

Where is it?

http://www.library.nhs.uk/Default.aspx

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

National Library for Health

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library Ctd Major source, though not comprehensive

Complete text of reviews – regularly updated

Reviews in progress – therefore very up to date information.

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library Ctd Key source of evidence - quality assessed

reviews using quality criteria

It contains the most comprehensive and international collection of evidence on which types of health care have been shown to work and which need more research

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library Ctd It is used by researchers and

clinicians worldwide, and increasingly by patients and their families

Provides the evidence base for many people involved in the preparation of health guidelines

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Library Ctd

The Cochrane Library consists of a regularly updated collection of evidence-based medicine databases

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Cochrane Reviews) is one of these

This database contains reviews of previous research undertaken

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Saves you time because the author has already carried out a detailed search

Evaluates the research using reliable methods

Comprehensive summary of the available evidence – an overview

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cochrane Demonstration

http://www.library.nhs.uk/Default.aspx

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Medline Major index of 4,000 plus biomedical

journals

Contains references and abstracts added from 1966 onwards

MEDLINE's journal coverage is extensive but represents possibly just a third, of the number of biomedical journals published worldwide

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Medline Ctd

Most MEDLINE records are from English language sources or have English abstracts, and may have an English

Take care as not all are available in English

Available via Ovid Web Gateway. ATHENS account required

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Cinahl

US produced database of nursing and allied health literature

Coverage from 1982 onwards

Includes references and abstracts from 950 journals

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Cinahl Available via Ovid Web Gateway. ATHENS

account required

Updated weekly.

English language and N. American bias

http://metalib0.york.ac.uk/

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Find them at (demonstration):

MetaLibhttp://www.york.ac.uk/

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Evidence Based Nursing Online Quarterly journal

Alerts practicing nurses to advances in treatment, diagnosis, aetiology and prognosis

Surveys a wide range of international medical journals applying strict criteria for the quality and validity of research

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Evidence Based Nursing Online Ctd The key details of studies are presented in

an abstract with an expert commentary on its clinical application

A reliable source of evidence

Saves time by carrying out the analysis on your behalf

http://ebn.bmjjournals.com/

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Some more databases to try:

PsycINFO – psychology and psychiatry

Embase – pharmaceuticals and physical therapy

British Nursing Index – British references

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Some more databases to try ctd:

Health Management Consortium Department of Health and Kings Fund

management database

AMED – allied and complimentary medicine

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Find them at (demonstration):

Metalib http://metalib0.york.ac.uk/

Accessing Sources Of Evidence For Practice

Time to practice!