BMJ Topic Collections

The BMJ Topic Collections bring together articles published in the BMJ since 1998 under specific topic headings. A useful resource if you are researching a new topic or just want to keep up-to-date with new articles published in the BMJ in your specialty. Both clinical and non-clinical (statistics, ethics, law) are covered including the following:

CLINICAL
Anaesthesia
Cardiovascular Medicine
Chronic diseases
Complementary Medicine
Critical Care / Intensive Care
Dentistry and Oral Medicine
Dermatology
Drugs
Emergency Medicine
Endocrinology
Evidence Based Practice
Gastroenterology
General Practice/Family Practice/Primary Care
Genetics
Geriatric Medicine
Global health
Haematology ( including blood transfusion)
Imaging Techniques
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Interactive case reports
Men's health
Molecular Medicine
Neurology
Nutrition and Metabolism
Occupational Health
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Paediatrics
Palliative Medicine
Pathology
Prison Medicine
Psychiatry
Rehabilitation Medicine
Renal Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Sexual Medicine
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Surgery
Travel medicine
Women's Health

NON-CLINICAL
Academic medicine
Basic sciences
Communication
Culture
Epidemiology
Ethics
Health Economics
Health Policy
History
Journalology
Management
Medical Careers
Medical Education
Medical informatics
Medicine and the law (incl forensic medicine)
Nursing
Patients
Psychology
Public Health
Religion / Spirituality
Sociology
Statistics and Research Methods

NHS Athens, electronic journals, literature searching and critical appraisal workshops 2008

New dates for 2008 workshops at Aintree Library are now available:

Introduction to Critical Appraisal and Study Designs NEW FOR 2008
Introduction to critical appraisal and the key features of common types of study designs. Learn how to identify the research methodology and locate appropriate critical appraisal tools
Friday 8th February 2008 10.00am – 12.00pm

Introduction to Systematic Reviews/Meta-analysis Critical Appraisal Workshop
Learn about systematic review sources, how to interpret forest plots and how to appraise a Systematic Review/Meta-analysis using a practical example and checklists
Monday 17th March 2008 9.30am - 3.00pm

Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) Critical Appraisal Workshop
Introduction to RCT sources and how to evaluate an RCT research article using a practical example and checklists
Wednesday 5th March 2008 9.30am – 3.00pm

Introduction to Qualitative Critical Appraisal
Introduction to the appraisal of qualitative research using a worked example
Thursday 21st February 2008 10.00am - 12.00pm

Introduction to The Cochrane Library
Beginners guide to searching The Cochrane Library, including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials
Tuesday 26th February 2008 10.00 – 12.00pm

Introduction to Evidence Based Resources NEW FOR 2008
Learn about some of the most useful information resources to support evidence based practice including systematic reviews and guidelines
Wednesday 23rd April 2008 10.00am – 12.00pm

Introduction to NHS Athens and Ejournals
Register for an NHS Athens account and learn how to access electronic journals from work or home
Wednesday 6th February 2008 10.00am – 11.00am
Thursday 13th March 2008 1.00pm – 2.00pm

Library Inductions and Refreshers
Available upon request

MEDLINE
Please note that the National Library for Health (NLH) have purchased a new version of MEDLINE. This new version is due to replace the current access via the NLH Dialog DataStar on 1st April 2008. Therefore there will be no further MEDLINE workshops until after 1st April 2008. In the meantime you can book a one-to-one session on MEDLINE with Michelle. Further details and training dates for the new version of MEDLINE will be made available in Feb/Mar 2008.

All workshops support the NHS Knowledge Skills Framework (KSF), Evidence Based Practice and CPD. Staff employed by University Hospital Aintree, The Walton Centre or Sefton PCT staff can attend.

All workshops are held in the IT Suite in the Library, Clinical Science Centre, University Hospital Aintree. For more information or to book a place contact Michelle Maden, Clinical Information Specialist on 0151 529 6418 or email madenm@edgehill.ac.uk

Overviews of the evidence - Systematic reviews

What are Systematic Reviews?
Systematic reviews attempt to provide an overview of primary research on a particular topic of interest that use explicit and reproducble methods to minimise bias. The main crux of a systematic review is the literature search, if all the evidence (both published and unpublished) is not considered the results of the review will be flawed.


How do they differ from a Review?
A review article may be selective in the choice of research to review in order to support a particular viewpoint. They may not be explicit about the types of studies included.

What are the advantages of Systematic Reviews?

• Aim to minimise the bias of a review (e.g. publication and language bias)
• Explicit in the research process
• Allow control over a mass of research literature
• They can save you time locating all the evidence on a particular topic

What are the disadvantages of Systematic Reviews?

• Can be broad in the nature of the topic under review
• May disguish important differences in individual studies included
• Can be difficult to generalise the results to a specific population because of the scope

Where can I find them?
The Cochrane Library contains 2 systematic review databases - The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews are full text systematic reviews undertaken by The Cochrane Collaboration. Generally they look at examining the effectiveness of health care interventions.

The Database of Abstracts of Effects (DARE) can also be searched via The Cochrane Library (known as 'Other reviews') or via The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Short critically appraised summaries of the systematic review are provided.

The Joanna Briggs Institute links to references of systematic reviews, whose eclectic nature is popular with many nurse managers. The focus is on clinically and economically appropriate and effective healthcare outcomes for clients and communities.

TRIP (turning Research into Practice) allows you to filter references to systematic reviews from a wide range of Evidence Based Resources.

The Healthcare Databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL etc) all contain references to systematic reviews. In PubMed you can use the limit function to narrow down your search to Systematic Reviews.

More information on Systematic Reviews including the Research Methodology and Critical Appraisal of Systematic Reviews can be found on the Introduction to Systematic Reviews/Meta-analysis Workshop at Aintree Library (dates to be confirmed at the end of November and will be advertised via the blog).

Writing for publication guidelines

A new website EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) is a new initiative that seeks to improve the quality of scientific publications by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of health research.

The website offers guidance for authors on the various guidelines (CONSORT, QUROUM, etc) available for the reporting of different types of research methodologies.

Initially funded by the NHS National Knowledge Service, the website is currently being developed and expanded to include information for authors (e.g. when should you start thinking about writing for publication) and journal editors and peer reviewers.

Managing your references - RefWorks

If you've ever struggled last minute to sort your references to add as a bibliography to a dissertation or literature review, or organise your references for publication in a journal, or even just wondered how to organise your references without having to type in each one by hand then RefWorks is just what you are looking for.

RefWorks helps to manage your references in the same way that Endnote or Reference Manager would. You can download and import your references (including abstracts) direct from the databases (Medline, Cinahl, Cochrane, PubMed) and import them into Refworks. From there you can;

• organise your references into folders
• delete duplicates
• search for authors
• edit your references
• create a bibliography in an output format of your choosing (Harvard, Vancouver, BMJ, etc).

It's easy to use and as it is web-based you can access it from home or the workplace without the need for CDs. Trust staff at UHA, The Walton Centre or Sefton PCT can now access this resource via the library catalogue. RefWorks training will be provided alongside the next group of information skills workshops, dates will be advertised via this blog, the LIRC website, in the LIRC and via T&D. In the meantime handouts on using RefWorks are available in the LIRC.

Literature searching, accessing ejournals, NHS Athens and critical appraisal training

Dates are now available for the following training courses for Aintree University Hospital, The Walton Centre and Sefton PCT staff:

Introduction to Systematic Reviews/Meta-analysis Critical Appraisal Workshop
Learn about systematic review sources, how to interpret forest plots and how to appraise a Systematic Review/Meta-analysis using a practical example and checklists
Wednesday 12th September 9.30am - 3.30pm

Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) Critical Appraisal Workshop
Introduction to RCT sources and how to evaluate an RCT research article using a practical example and checklists
Tuesday 18th September 2007 9.30am – 3.30pm

Introduction to Qualitative Critical Appraisal
Introduction to the appraisal of qualitative research using a worked example
Tuesday 2nd October 2007 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Introduction to Literature Searching using Medline and The Cochrane Library
Beginners guide to searching the two most useful sources of medical literature. Aims to save you time locating research articles by creating effective search strategies
Wednesday 5th Sept 2007 9.30am – 3.30pm

Introduction to MEDLINE using Dialog (via the National Library of Health) part 1
Beginners guide to Medline via Dialog
Thursday 11th October 2007 10.00am – 12.00pm

Introduction to MEDLINE using Dialog (via the National Library of Health) part 2
Further searching tips on searching Medline using MeSH and other techniques to quickly locate relevant articles (Experience of searching Medline via Dialog or attendance at part 1 is essential)
Wednesday 24th Oct 2007 10.00am – 12.00pm

Introduction to NHS Athens and Ejournals
Register for an NHS Athens account and learn how to access electronic journals from work or home
Thursday 13th September 2007 10.00am – 11.00pm
Thursday 11th October 2007 1.00pm – 2.00pm

For further information or to book a place on the workshops contact Michelle, Clinical Information Specialist on 0151 529 6418.

Clinical Information Service

The Clinical Information Service aims to save NHS staff time by providing a literature search service and information skills/critical appraisal skills training.

So if you are undertaking research, supporting guideline/care pathway/protocol development, writing for publication/presentation, involved in journal clubs or just simply want to know how to access electronic journals from your workplace or home with NHS Athens then contact Michelle on 0151 529 6418 or email madenm@edgehill.ac.uk