Training

Introduction to searching health databases such as Medline, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, PsychINFO, HMIC and The Cochrane Library.
You will learn how to:
• identify and access relevant databases
• formulate a search question using methods such as PICO
• carry out an advanced search using Boolean logic, thesaurus mapping and other advanced techniques
• save and export results
• access journal articles ​

Online Training (External)
The following is a free course provided by NHS England and can be found on the eLearning for healthcare hub.

How to search the literature effectively
Consists of 7 short modules designed to help you build confidence to search published literature for articles and evidence relevant to your work, study and research.

To see other useful guides and resources on literature searching, click here.

1:1 Beginners’ session
This is an introduction to critical appraisal, where you will learn how to:

• Identify different study designs used in research
• Locate various critical appraisal checklist tools
• Interpret figures used to determine statistical significance, including confidence intervals, p-values and power calculations

1:1 Advanced session
As well as the above, in this session you will learn how to interpret outcome measures commonly found in research articles, including odds ratio, relative risk, absolute risk reduction and number needed to treat.

If you would like to analyse a specific paper, please inform the librarian and send a copy at least two days in advance of your session.

Group session
This is a two hour group session which provides an overview of critical appraisal techniques. Some pre-session reading of a journal article is required. This will be critically appraised in a group discussion in the second half of the session.

Online Training (External)
The following is a free course provided by NHS England and can be found on the eLearning for healthcare hub.

Critically appraising the evidence base
The critical appraisal programme has been designed to help you to build confidence in the critical appraisal process when applying and evaluating research.

To see other useful guides and resources on critical appraisal, click here.

An introduction to accessing online resources provided by the library, including:

• Registering for and renewing your OpenAthens account
• Finding and accessing journal articles
• Tools and tips to help you keep up to date with the latest evidence

 

A one hour session which provides an introduction to getting published.
You will learn about:

• The benefits of getting published
• How to choose a journal
• The publication process
• The writing process

Writing for Publication for NMAHPs

A two hour session covering the following, specific to nurses, midwives and AHP staff

• The benefits of getting published
• How to choose a journal
• The publication process
• The writing process

Health Education England Learning Zone guide to Writing for Publication

A one hour session looking at

• Identifying different essay types
• Understanding essay questions
• Writing in a formal style

This is a practical 45 minute group session which provides strategies to help you develop your reflective writing skills.

Topics covered include:

• The principles and value of reflection
• Meeting requirements for revalidation / CPD
• Models and techniques to structure your reflective writing
• Using critical thinking to inform your reflection

Attendees will leave the session with their own written piece of reflection.

Next group sessions:

Please email bethan.morgan@mft.nhs.uk to register your interest.

In this one hour session session you will learn how to:

• Identify reliable websites
• Identify accredited sources
• Perform more successful and reliable web searches
• Use Google’s advanced search tools
• Use Google Scholar and set up Google alerts

This practical 45 minute session will discuss the impact of low health literacy and its effect on patient outcomes.

• Recognise the impact of low health literacy
• Recognise the connection between health literacy and health inequalities in patient outcomes
• Patient experience of understanding health information
• Techniques and tools to support better health communication