Need to search the literature...can we help you?

For several years the Illingworth Library has provided literature search training consisting of one to one sessions lasting about 1 hour – just ring up and book. Additionally we can also do literature searches for you or alongside you. Last year we did 70+ searches particularly in our work supporting PCCU and Surgery  and we have already done over 40 this year since April.

We regularly do searches to help  inform the care of current patients; as background for developing guidelines or auditing  current practice and also to help staff undertaking further study.We have done searches for Allied Health Professionals, Consultants, Nurses, Scientists and many others. We have searched for topics ranging from Appendectomies to Mouthwashes. We start with the Health Databases available via NHS Evidence and then widen the search to look at other resources as necessary.

We encourage people to learn how to search effectively for themselves but as we are conducting searches regularly it may sometimes be more efficient to use our service.  So if you are short of time or your skills are rusty perhaps we can help.

Some excellent feedback we had recently puts the case perfectly

“I had 2 clinical questions recently that no textbook was giving me an easy answer to and after a quick email within a few working days I had both an extensive literature search and downloaded articles that perfectly answered my queries.

When I first started I almost felt that asking their help was both lazy and an imposition; this could not be further from the point. So, at the risk of overwhelming them .... get in touch. I'm sure they can be of help.”

Sometimes people will do a search themselves and then ask us to do the same search – this can be useful both to confirm that they haven’t missed anything but also as we all have our own ways of approaching a search we might sometimes pick up different results.

There is more information and a link to a search request form here http://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/Literaturesearching

There is no charge for the literature searching service but you will be asked to spend a couple of minutes filling in an online feedback form 4-6 weeks after the search to help us keep our service relevant and useful.