Literature Searching and Critical Appraisal

Guides and Resource Lists

May 2007

Please click here to book a 1-2-1 session for literature searching, using the Dialog and Ovid systems.

A number of presentations for the 'bitesize' sessions have been left up - these tie into the topics discussed here

Please give us any feedback concerning this material you may have (the sessions are evaluated separately after they are held) - click to use our feedback form

GUIDE TO SEARCHING - an overview and checklist

Leaflets to help you with the process are available via the 'downloads' section (see the panel on the left-hand side).

The first stage of any search for information or a literature search is to think and plan your search. I have put together a table to help you formulate a stategy.

• Write down your question at the top of the sheet, on the lines provided at the top.
• You can just divide your query by concepts (the table at the top) .
• If you prefer, you can use the 'PICO' (also know as (PIOC) formula, or an equiavlent, the 'ECLIPSE' formula
• I have provided examples of these
• Remember to consult the 'help' files of the database for truncation, wildcards and phrase searching. The commands differ, depending if you use databases provided by Ovid (used in general by Universities) or Dialog (NHS system)

Click here for a worked example of how to break down a search question

Click here to download a blank form

Formulating a search question (Bitsesize session)

Please click on the 'Bitesize' link (left-hand side links panel).

Workbooks for information resources - this section is under completion.

Make sure that you select the workbook for the software you are used to using; either Ovid (used for example by the University of Manchester) or Dialog (NHS ATHENS log-in).

For Ovid

(in process)

Keyword searching (Bitesize session)

Please click on the 'Bitesize' link (left-hand side links panel).

Subject searching (Bitesize session)

Please click on the 'Bitesize' link (left-hand side links panel).

National Library for Health (Bitesize session)

Please click on the 'Bitesize' link (left-hand side links panel).

Finding the Evidence: Introduction to evidence-based healthcare information - a taster (Bitesize session)

Please click on the 'Bitesize' link (left-hand side links panel).

Critical Appraisal - 'weighing the evidence' (hence the graphic!)

Critical appraisal is a means of weighing the material you retrieve as a result of searching.

There are plenty of resources available; please see the 'downloads' section (left-hand side of this page).

• An overview of critical appraisal - what it is and isn't
• Websites with checklists to use when reading material

Essential reading material to get you started:

Greenhalgh, T. How to read a paper. London: BMJPG, 2nd (2001) and 3rd (2006) editions.

Available via

• NHS: Second edition is available via 'Myilibrary' - log into National Library for Health and select 'e-books' from the front page (under 'Books, journals and bibliographic databases') - printed copies of the 2nd and third editions are available.
• Manchester University: Click here to access the John Rylands University Library page; to search for individuals click the 'library catalogue' link and search by author or title. Printed copies of the the third edition are available.
• Salford University: Click here to access the library catalogue. Printed copies of the the third edition are available

How to book a session:

You can book by contacting the library:-

• Telephone us on 0161 206 5405. You can always leave a message if you phone when we are closed.
• E-mail us (library.hope@manchester.ac.uk)
• We can customise sessions to suit your needs!