Literature Searching - elearning for healthcare
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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:

Building the foundations

Developing the skills

Applying the skills

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:

  • 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
  • Module 7

    Searching the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub and bibliographic databases

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

    Sarah Lewis

    Library Services Manager, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Tracey Pratchett

    Tracey Pratchett

    Knowledge & Library Services Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Michelle Maden

    Michelle Maden

    Independent Information Consultant
  • Mandy Davis

    Mandy Davis

    Blended Learning Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Wayne Troake

    Wayne Troake

    Senior Educational Technologist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Tracey Geddis

    Tracey Geddis

    Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

How to access

Available to all

The Literature Searching programme is freely available to access here.
Please note your progress and completion of sessions will not be recorded and you will not be able to generate a record of completion. If you require evidence of learning, please register and then log in to access this programme on the elfh Hub.

If you already have an account with elfh, then you can enrol on to the Literature Searching programme by logging in to the elfh Hub, selecting My Account > Enrolment and selecting the programme. You can then access the programme immediately in the My elearning section.

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To view the Literature Searching programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

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NHS healthcare staff in England

The Literature Searching programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Literature Searching programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.

elfh is a NHS England programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies