The Evidence You Need
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We have a range of journals, books and other evidence-based resources such as databases, for health and social care staff at Medway KLS. You will need an NHS OpenAthens account to access most of these resources.
There are several databases to search when looking for good, reliable evidence-based research. NHS Evidence provides access to these, with an OpenAthens account. Medline can be searched direct via PubMed, but with less access to full text resources and limited to saved searches. To access the databases, go to NHS Evidence, Journals and Databases, then Advanced Search. Log in with your Athens details, then select the database you require.
Meta-Search Tools ("Federated" search tools)
(McMaster University) is free (registration required) and provides current best evidence for clinical decisions. It conducts literature searches simultaneously in several different evidence-based information services (online evidence-based texts, and pre-appraised journal publications).
The EBM toolbox provide access to EBM journals, textbooks, websites, Critical Appraisal Worksheets, Educational Prescriptions, Self-Evaluations Logbook, Pocket Cards, EBM Calculators and much more.
The EBM toolbox provides checklists which can act as memory aids for the evaluation of studies. These will help evaluate how much weight can be put on study results and how far we can generalise the results from trials into routine practice to inform clinical care.
Combines meta-searching and contingency searching in order to automate searching for medical evidence. Simultaneously searches multiple internet sites and collates the results into one page.
is a meta-search engine simultaneously searches evidence-based sources of systematic reviews, practice guidelines, and critically-appraised topics and articles -- including most of those listed above and many more. Also searches MEDLINE’s Clinical Queries, medical image databases, e-textbooks, and patient information leaflets.
Filtered Resources
Filtered resources appraise the quality of studies and often make recommendations for practice.
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Consists of detailed, structured topic reviews of hundreds of articles. Teams of experts complete comprehensive literature reviews, evaluate the literature, and present summaries of the findings of the best studies. Published by the International Cochrane Collaboration.
International database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care. PROSPERO has recently opened for registration and so contains few published records; searching is therefore limited.
is a free site that contains abstracts of systematic reviews and RCTs relevant to occupational therapy. (Critically appraised and rated to assist you in evaluating their validity and interpretability).
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses are also searchable in individual databases
Use the Refine Search tab to limit by Publication type: "systematic review."
Enter your search query. Click on the “Limits” icon and select “Systematic Reviews” under “Subject Subsets.” OR limit your search to publication type: meta-analysis. (Caution: the "systematic review" subset in Medline also includes literature reviews, narrative reviews, etc.)
In Advanced Search, perform search, then scroll to the “Limit by Topics, Languages, and Journal Groups” choices, and select limit by Subset: systematic reviews. (Caution: the "systematic review" subset in Medline also includes literature reviews, narrative reviews, etc.) OR, in Advanced Search, perform search, then scroll to More Resources/Clinical Queries or the Topic Specific Queries feature to search by: Clinical Study Category, Find Systematic Reviews, or other Topic-Specific PubMed Queries targeted for clinicians and health services researchers.
When you have performed a search by topic in PsycINFO, you may then choose to restrict your search to one or more “Methodology,” e.g. "systematic review."
Critically-Appraised Topics
Authors of critically-appraised topics evaluate and synthesize multiple research studies.
practice guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
[with links to Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Evidence Reports] Click on a category of Completed Reports (for example, "Eye Conditions"), to view individual evidence reports and summaries.
specialises in evidence synthesis, assembling and evaluating data from multiple research studies to generate robust evidence to inform health policy and practice.
A free, web-based resource that provides access to full-text documents useful for providing health information and for health care decision-making. Provides access to a wide variety of publications, including: clinical practice guidelines, quick-reference guides for clinicians, consumer health brochures, evidence reports and technology assessments from AHRQ, NIH Consensus Conference Reports and Technology Assessment Reports; the HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) resource documents; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP), etc.
A comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents produced by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans. Updated weekly.
Note: Guideline evidence varies from expert opinion to high levels of evidence. Practice guidelines that are based on meta-analyses and systematic reviews may be considered the highest level of evidence.
Critically appraised topics (CATs) and critically appraised papers (CAPs) focussing on occupational therapy interventions.
Free site contains abstracts of systematic reviews and RCTs relevant to occupational therapy. (Critically appraised and rated to assist you to evaluate their validity and interpretability).
is the Physiotherapy Evidence Database from the Centre for Evidence-Based Physiotherapy (CEBP) at the University of Sydney. Free web-based database with access to bibliographic details and abstracts of over 5500 RCTs, systematic reviews and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in physiotherapy. Most trials on the database have been rated for quality to help you quickly discriminate between trials which are likely to be valid and interpretable and those which are not.
Practice Guidelines are also searchable in MEDLINE and CINAHL
Perform a search in CINAHL Plus via Ebsco , use Refine Search to limit to publication type: Practice Guidelines (Other publication types to consider: Care Plan OR Clinical Innovations OR Critical Path OR Protocol OR Standards) Perform a search in PubMed(Medline), limit to publication type: Practice Guideline
Clinical resources
Clinical resources provided for Knowledge and Library Service members
takes you quickly and accurately to the latest evidence-based information, whenever and wherever you need it. It includes step by step guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and prevention and is updated daily using robust evidence based methodology and expert opinion.
is an in-depth collection of peer-reviewed cases in all disciplines, enabling healthcare professionals, researchers and others to find clinically important information on common and rare conditions.
is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.
The NHS Knowledge and Library Hub connects NHS staff and learners to high quality knowledge and evidence resources in one place. Funded by Health Education England, it includes: journals, books and databases clinical decision support resources including NICE Guidelines and BMJ Best Practice resources purchased nationally and locally
Clinical nurse experts from one of the UK’s leading centres of expertise have brought together all the latest clinical evidence nurses need to meet confidently the requirements of their demanding profession. The Manual includes over 350 evidence-based clinical procedures related to every aspect of care, from handwashing to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
is the UK’s largest database of information and research on all aspects of social care and social work
Search for high-quality research relevant to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Search for high-quality, evidence-based information on all aspects of transfusion medicine
is an evidence-based, peer-reviewed information resource providing clinical knowledge summaries. These are comprised of a synthesis of the latest evidence, current literature, and recommendations for patient care.
Evidence based e-books
- Bandolier's Little Book of Making Sense of the Medical Evidence
- Geriatric Medicine: an Evidence-based Approach
- Is Evidence-based Psychiatry Ethical?
- Oxford Handbook of Key Clinical Evidence (2 edn.)
- Screening: Evidence and Practice (2 edn.)
- Spirituality and Religion Within the Culture of Medicine: From Evidence to Practice
- 50 Studies Every Doctor Should Know, Revised Edition: The Key Studies that Form the Foundation of Evidence Based Medicine
Resources and Support
These resources offer you training, guidance and other resources which can benefit health practitioners, decision-makers and researchers.