About the Literature Searching programme
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:
- Module 1 Introduction to searching
- Module 2 Where do I start searching?
- Module 3 How do I start to develop a search strategy?
- 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
If you require further assistance contact your local healthcare library team. Check the Health Library and Information Services Directory to find your local library.
More information
Select each module below to find out more information:
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Module 1
Introduction to searchingModule 1
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Consider the processes involved in searching and identify which areas you need to develop
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Recognise when you need to conduct a search
- Identify which searching skills you need to develop
- Find out where you can access further help with searching
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Understand where to get help with searching
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Module 2
Where do I start searching?Module 2
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Ensure that you are looking in the right places for information
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Identify the range of resources available to you
- Identify appropriate resources relevant to your search topic
- Locate the full-text of a journal article
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Use the right resources to save time searching
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Module 3
How do I start to develop a search strategy?Module 3
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Develop a simple search strategy and save time in the long run by spending some time planning your search
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Identify what you want to know and focus your topic
- Use frameworks to break down your topic
- Identify additional search terms to broaden the search
- Use AND/OR to combine search terms
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Put time into planning the search to get the most out of it
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Module 4
Too many results? How to narrow your searchModule 4
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Use techniques to narrow your search to find relevant articles in less time
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Apply limits (e.g. year of publication)
- See the impact of searching in the title and abstract
- See the impact of phrase searching on the results
- Amend your search strategy to reduce the number of results
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Not give up on searching because you find too much information
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Module 5
Too few results? How to broaden your searchModule 5
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Use techniques to increase your search results even when there doesn’t seem much available at first
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Add different endings to a search term
- See the impact of removing keywords from your search
- See the impact of removing limits from your search
- Amend your search strategy to increase the number of results
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Not give up on searching too soon because you don’t find much information
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Module 6
Searching with subject headingsModule 6
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Use advanced techniques to find more relevant articles in less time
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Describe what a subject heading is (or thesaurus term) and why it is used
- Describe the difference between subject heading and keyword search
- Select relevant subject headings for your search
- Broaden or narrow a search using subject headings
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Applying more advanced search techniques
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Module 7
How to search the Healthcare Databases (HDAS)Module 7
The aim of this module is to help you:
- Use the Healthcare Databases (HDAS) to find relevant articles
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Login to HDAS with your NHS Athens account
- Combine search terms using HDAS
- Search using subject headings (thesaurus terms)
- Refine your search strategy
- Save results and download full text articles
What behaviour will we aim to change:
- Apply a range of search techniques to an essential resource for the healthcare workforce
Thank you
Thank you to the Steering Group, chaired by Helen Bingham, for bringing their expertise and knowledge to the project team. Thanks also to our wonderful team of library staff who made up the Virtual Reference Group, testing, evaluating and informing the development of the modules.
Meet the team
Sarah Lewis
Library Services Manager, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Tracey Pratchett
Knowledge & Library Services Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Michelle Maden
Independent Information Consultant
Mandy Davis
Blended Learning Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Wayne Troake
Senior Educational Technologist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Tracey Geddis
Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
How to access
In order to access any e-LfH programme, you will need an e-LfH account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
If you already have an account with e-LfH, then you can enrol on to the Literature Searching programme by logging in to the e-LfH Hub, selecting My Account > Enrolment and selecting the programme. You can then access the programme immediately in the My e-Learning section.
Available to all
The Literature Searching programme is freely available for everyone to access by browsing our catalogue and selecting the Literature Searching programme. You will have the option of registering / logging in so that your learning activity is recorded. Please note that if you do not log in, your activity will not be tracked and you will not be able to generate a record of completion.
The Literature Searching programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this e-Learning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.
Further details are available here.
If you would like to register, so your activity will be tracked, then please select the Register button above.