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Training

Searching Skills Training

  • If you need help with a literature search, you can book a 1:1 session with one of our experienced librarians.
  • Sessions typically take a minimum of one hour and will cover how to construct and run a search strategy within a healthcare database.
  • Training can take place in person at either Colchester or Ipswich Hospital Library, or online via Teams.
  • To arrange a convenient date and time please email either:
  • library.services@esneft.nhs.uk for Colchester Hospital Library or hospital.library@esneft.nhs.uk for Ipswich Hospital Library
  • Please specify if you would prefer in-person or Teams training.

 

Library Hub​​​​​​​

  • If you need a starting place for a simple search yourself, the best place to start is the NHS Library and Knowledge hub. 
  • If you would like to more about how to request items from the library please head to our request information page.

How to search the literature effectively from E-Learning for Health

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

Building the foundations

  • Module 1 Introduction to searching
  • Module 2 Where do I start searching?
  • Module 3 How do I start to develop a search strategy?

Developing the skills

  • 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

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

Click the link below to access the training.