Searching & Training

You can register for OpenAthens here. If possible, register with your work email address and from an NHS computer to confirm your eligibility and gain quick access to the resources

Do you need help to find evidence-based information to support your clinical practice?

These short modules are designed to build confidence in searching published literature for articles and evidence relevant to work, study and research. Dip into for reference or complete each in about 20 minutes to gain a certificate. The seven modules are suitable for novice searchers or 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

Resources for advanced searching

Some staff and learners need to carry out complex, robust and reproduceable searches including for systematic review and informing research. These advanced searches should be conducted in bibliographic databases such as Medline, Embase and CINAHL.

What bibliographic databases are available?

AMED – allied and complementary medicine including palliative care

BNI – nursing, midwifery and community healthcare

CINAHL – nursing and allied health

Embase – biomedical and pharmaceutical literature

Emcare – nursing and allied health

HMIC – healthcare management

Medline – biomedical, life sciences, allied health and pre-clinical sciences literature

Where do I find these databases?

EBSCO CINAHL and Medline

ProQuest BNI, Medline and PsychINFO

Wolters Kluwer (Ovid) AMED, Embase, Emcare, HMIC and Medline

To access these databases, you will need an NHS OpenAthens account.

Check your eligibility for an NHS OpenAthens account

Where can I find support materials for these databases?

If you’re new to literature searching, or need a refresher, why not take a look at our e-learning programme, How to Search the Literature Effectively? This will help you build confidence to search published literature for articles and evidence.

EBSCO Interface

Surrey and Sussex LKS EBSCO search guide

Ovid Interface

Surrey and Sussex LKS OVID search guide

ProQuest Interface

Surrey and Sussex LKS ProQuest search guide

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Training guides

Cochrane Library
NICE Evidence