Today’s post based on the excellent material from the NLH Search 2.0 SHA Representatives group.

When to use them?

Whenever you need ready done quality synthesised reviews of the best available evidence.

The Content

• Bandolier – advice about particular treatments for health professionals and consumers based on primary and secondary research.
• Cochrane Library Database of Systematic Reviews – systematic reviews and protocols for future reviews.
• Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects – abstracts of systematic reviews published in places other than the Cochrane Library Database of Systematic Reviews.
• NHS Economic Evaluation Database – structured economic evaluations of health care interventions.
• Health Technology Assessment Database - focussing on prevention and rehabilitation, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and devices, medical and surgical procedures and the systems within which health is protected and maintained.

Searching Evidence Based Reviews

Check the Evidence Based Reviews check box in the search box at the top of the NLH page.

This will allow you to conduct a simple search across all of the evidence based review databases and materials.

As yesterday’s post suggested there are key linking phrases available to allow you to define the relationship between concepts in your search. As a reminder we’ve detailed them again below.

• AND – to make sure the words used appear in the results – this will limit your search results.
• OR – to create an either/or link to expand your search
• NOT – to exclude a word from a search (this will limit your search).
• EXACT PHRASE – by putting your search in “speech marks” you will search for the phrase as you type it. This technique also works with Google and other search engines and is a Fade top tip to find relevant material on the internet.

Searching indivdual or Multiple Evidence Based Reviews Whilst Ignoring Others

If you click on the Evidence Based Reviews Link (as illustrated below)

You will be taken to a specific Evidence Based Reviews Search where you can use the check boxes to select the resources as illustrated below. The usual range of linking terms are available to design your search to bring back optimum results (as detailed above).

Advanced searches can also be run using the same set of parameters as described yesterday.

Saving Search Results

To save results requires you to be logged into Athens (which you can get from the NHS here, providing you work for the NHS). Check the check boxes of the items you want to save and then click the button. Alternatively just click on Save Search Result for individual items.

To retrieve items you’ve saved when you’ve logged in with your Athens password jsut click on the Saved Search Results link in the MY SEARCH section of the page.

This is also where you can find Saved Search Histories, Saved Search Criteria and your Search Profiles.

E-Mailing Search Results

You can e-mail individual search results by clicking on the More Details link. This will then bring up an e-mail form (shown below) which you can mail to yourself or a colleague you think will be interested in the item. It has space for you to add your own message.