Resources for researchers

On this page you can find information on resources for researchers. The page is split up into the following sections:

Databases

Guidelines, policy and publications

Databases
ABPI Clinical Trial Disclosure Toolkit: Good practice guidelines, disclosure checklists and a standard operating procedure for pharmaceutical companies Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Centre for Reviews and Dissemination databases (CRD) - enables searching of the Database of Health Technology Assessments (HTA), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) ClinicalTrials.gov (US) - searchable database which provides information about current ongoing clinical research activities both within the US and internationally Cochrane Library: Highest quality evidence including 'gold standard' systematic reviews (no login required) Current Controlled Trials: allows users to search, register and share information about clinical trials European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) Health Systems Evidence: respository of syntheses of research evidence about governance, financial and delivery arrangements within health systems ISRCTN: A numeric system for the unique identification of trials Nederlands Trial Register: The options in the menu are in English, but the pages are in Dutch NHS Databases: British Nursing Index (BNI), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Health Business Elite, Health Management Information Consortium - NHS ATHENS account required PubMed: for search engine style quick search of biomedical literature Mendeley: a free research reference and PDF management tool Science.gov: US government science information, including R&D results TRIP: Turning Research Into Practice - clinical search engine. Sign up to the site and follow this guide to enable the discovery of full-text links to resources held by Francis Costello Library. Click here for a list of short videos designed to help you get the most out of the TRIP database. (NB Video clips may not available on Trust networked devices). Please note that users gain enhanced accessed to Trip Pro when on NHS Trust networked devices. UK Clinical Trials Gateway: Search results are available in two formats, and if results have been published, details will be given UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (Japan): English language page. Click here for the Japanese page WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP): Their mission is to provide an overview of health research, the site includes a facility to search for clinical trials.

Databases

ABPI Clinical Trial Disclosure Toolkit: Good practice guidelines, disclosure checklists and a standard operating procedure for pharmaceutical companies

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination databases (CRD) - enables searching of the Database of Health Technology Assessments (HTA), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED)

ClinicalTrials.gov (US) - searchable database which provides information about current ongoing clinical research activities both within the US and internationally

Cochrane Library: Highest quality evidence including 'gold standard' systematic reviews (no login required)

Current Controlled Trials: allows users to search, register and share information about clinical trials

European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT)

Health Systems Evidence: respository of syntheses of research evidence about governance, financial and delivery arrangements within health systems

ISRCTN: A numeric system for the unique identification of trials

Nederlands Trial Register: The options in the menu are in English, but the pages are in Dutch

NHS Databases: British Nursing Index (BNI), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Health Business Elite, Health Management Information Consortium - NHS ATHENS account required

PubMed: for search engine style quick search of biomedical literature

Mendeley: a free research reference and PDF management tool

Science.gov: US government science information, including R&D results

TRIP: Turning Research Into Practice - clinical search engine. Sign up to the site and follow this guide to enable the discovery of full-text links to resources held by Francis Costello Library. Click here for a list of short videos designed to help you get the most out of the TRIP database. (NB Video clips may not available on Trust networked devices). Please note that users gain enhanced accessed to Trip Pro when on NHS Trust networked devices.

UK Clinical Trials Gateway: Search results are available in two formats, and if results have been published, details will be given

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (Japan): English language page. Click here for the Japanese page

WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP): Their mission is to provide an overview of health research, the site includes a facility to search for clinical trials.

Guidelines, policy and publications
AllTrials campaign is working to have all trials registered, and all results reported Clinicaltrials.gov: Information about clinical studies (including but not limited to clinical trials) CONSORT Statement: Recommendations for reporting RCTs Department of Health , National Health Service polices, announcements and publications King's Fund: independent charitable organisation providing research and health policy analysis Health and Social Care Information Centre (supercedes the NHS Information Centre) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority - Clinical Trials: Very comprehensive resource, aimed at healthcare professionals NHS Improving Quality (previously NHS Improvement) NICE guidance (general search) NICE Evidence search (then filter results by information type) NIHR - Clinical Trials Toolkit: Gives advice to researchers on designing and running a trial. The site also discusses the need for registration, so that trials can be tracked from start to publication

Guidelines, policy and publications

AllTrials campaign is working to have all trials registered, and all results reported

Clinicaltrials.gov: Information about clinical studies (including but not limited to clinical trials)

CONSORT Statement: Recommendations for reporting RCTs

Department of Health , National Health Service polices, announcements and publications

King's Fund: independent charitable organisation providing research and health policy analysis

Health and Social Care Information Centre (supercedes the NHS Information Centre)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority - Clinical Trials: Very comprehensive resource, aimed at healthcare professionals

NHS Improving Quality (previously NHS Improvement)

NICE guidance (general search)

NICE Evidence search (then filter results by information type)

NIHR - Clinical Trials Toolkit: Gives advice to researchers on designing and running a trial. The site also discusses the need for registration, so that trials can be tracked from start to publication

Journals
Information about our current journal subscriptions, and the substantial journal archive we hold, can be found at Search for a journal. Electronic journal titles of particular interest to research are: Bone and Joint 360 (summarises the latest developments in each orthopaedic specialism) Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research Journal of Orthopaedic Research Most of our journals are purchased by the NHS; however any journals which are provided by our university partners are labelled as such to enable compliance with copyright legislation when photocopying or scanning. Further information can be found on posters above the photocopier/scanner device sited in the library I.T. room. Take a look at this free journal called The Researcher which provides interesting reading on being a researcher in the NHS: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/760101/

Journals

Information about our current journal subscriptions, and the substantial journal archive we hold, can be found at Search for a journal.

Electronic journal titles of particular interest to research are:

Bone and Joint 360 (summarises the latest developments in each orthopaedic specialism)
Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Journal of Orthopaedic Research

Most of our journals are purchased by the NHS; however any journals which are provided by our university partners are labelled as such to enable compliance with copyright legislation when photocopying or scanning. Further information can be found on posters above the photocopier/scanner device sited in the library I.T. room.

Take a look at this free journal called The Researcher which provides interesting reading on being a researcher in the NHS: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/760101/

Books
Browse our catalogue https://wv-shelib.olib.oclc.org/webview/ Search our catalogue for: research methodology research ethics research design medical statistics poster presentations We welcome your suggestions for purchase - please contact us via this online form Need to buy a book? Ask library staff for suppliers.

Books

Browse our catalogue https://wv-shelib.olib.oclc.org/webview/

Search our catalogue for:

We welcome your suggestions for purchase - please contact us via this online form

Need to buy a book? Ask library staff for suppliers.

Evidence alerts
King's Fund alerts, including one on health and wellbeing and their weekly update http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/forms/get-latest-news-fund Department of Health and NHS email alerts via the .gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/email-signup?organisation=department-of-health QIPP case studies - monthly alerts produced by NICE Evidence email: qipp@nice.org.uk Francis Costello Library blog alerts - subscribe by email http://franciscostellolibrary.blogspot.co.uk/ Follow Francis Costello Library on Twitter: @CostelloLib NHS Networks - to share ideas and improve the health service http://www.networks.nhs.uk WiredGov - the most popular UK government alerting service http://www.wired-gov.net/ Further information about alerting and current awareness can be found on our Keeping up-to-date page.

Evidence alerts

King's Fund alerts, including one on health and wellbeing and their weekly update http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/forms/get-latest-news-fund

Department of Health and NHS email alerts via the .gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/email-signup?organisation=department-of-health

QIPP case studies - monthly alerts produced by NICE Evidence email: qipp@nice.org.uk

Francis Costello Library blog alerts - subscribe by email http://franciscostellolibrary.blogspot.co.uk/

Follow Francis Costello Library on Twitter: @CostelloLib

NHS Networks - to share ideas and improve the health service http://www.networks.nhs.uk

WiredGov - the most popular UK government alerting service http://www.wired-gov.net/

Further information about alerting and current awareness can be found on our Keeping up-to-date page.

Training
To support you in your work, the Francis Costello Library make the following information skills training e-learning modules available to you: Basic and advanced database searching Critical Appraisal Publishing, Copyright and Citations The modules are free to you and can be undertaken from any Internet connected PC. See Request information skills training page for details, where you can also find a link to the Trust training prospectus. Access free research related training activities and resources from NIHR CRN West Midlands Research Training Collaboratives. Information about training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted . NICE online learning resources were developed to support the implementation of NICE guidance. They were designed to enable healthcare staff to keep up to date with recent evidence; to challenge misconceptions; to reflect and compare local practice with NICE recommendations. The tools are free to use and you will be required to register in order to start using them. The following e-learning modules are included: Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology; NICE guidance: evidence into practice; Systematic review

Training

To support you in your work, the Francis Costello Library make the following information skills training e-learning modules available to you:

Basic and advanced database searching
Critical Appraisal
Publishing, Copyright and Citations

The modules are free to you and can be undertaken from any Internet connected PC. See Request information skills training page for details, where you can also find a link to the Trust training prospectus.

Access free research related training activities and resources from NIHR CRN West Midlands Research Training Collaboratives.

Information about training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted .

NICE online learning resources were developed to support the implementation of NICE guidance. They were designed to enable healthcare staff to keep up to date with recent evidence; to challenge misconceptions; to reflect and compare local practice with NICE recommendations. The tools are free to use and you will be required to register in order to start using them.

The following e-learning modules are included: Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology; NICE guidance: evidence into practice; Systematic review

Services
Please find below links to further information about core library services. Please also note that we have previously worked with individual researchers to give appropriate library support for a specific project. If you are planning a clinial audit, project or research activities for which you would like tailored library support, please contact the library so that we can discuss your individual needs and plan accordingly. Request a literature search - an experienced, chartered library professional will undertake an exhaustive search of the relevant literature and provide you with the summarised results. Request a journal article or book Send us an enquiry [online form] Speak to us about your current awareness needs Arrange information skills training Provide us with feedback [online form] Find information about RJAH staff publications

Services

Please find below links to further information about core library services.

Please also note that we have previously worked with individual researchers to give appropriate library support for a specific project. If you are planning a clinial audit, project or research activities for which you would like tailored library support, please contact the library so that we can discuss your individual needs and plan accordingly.

Request a literature search - an experienced, chartered library professional will undertake an exhaustive search of the relevant literature and provide you with the summarised results.

Request a journal article or book

Send us an enquiry [online form]

Speak to us about your current awareness needs

Arrange information skills training

Provide us with feedback [online form]

Find information about RJAH staff publications

Useful websites
NHS Evidence – latest published research including guidelines, reports and care pathways http://www.evidence.nhs.uk CASP critical appraisal guidelines: checklists to help you assess research in a systematic and objective way (must be viewed through Google Chrome or Firefox) http://www.casp-uk.net/appraising-the-evidence/ Discern http://www.discern.org.uk/index.php is a valid and reliable way of assessing the quality of written health information Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) - an information space devoted to European research and development activities http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html NHS R&D Forum - a network for those involved in managing and supporting R&D in health and social care http://www.rdforum.nhs.uk/ National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Department of Health organisation providing details of funding, reserach guidance, news, jobs and publications http://www.nihr.ac.uk/ National Research Ethics Council - facilitates and promotes ethical research and also protects the rights and safety of research particpants http://www.nres.nhs.uk/ Medical Research Council - publicly funded organisation supporting research in medical sciences http://www.mrc.ac.uk Wellcome Trust - global charitable fund supporting biomedical research and the medical humanities http://www.wellcome.ac.uk BioMed Central's Writing Resources - a guide to writing and publishing a scientific manuscript http://www.biomedcentral.com/getpublished/writing-resources Springer Author Academy - here you will find free e-learning modules about writing for publication: http://www.springer.com/societies+%26+publishing+partners/aocs?SGWID=0-145502-12-1015366-0 Think, check, submit (best viewed though Firefox or Google Chrome) - This resource offers publishing guidance on how to choose the right journal for your research RJAH Trust research information http://www.rjah.nhs.uk/Our-Services/Research.aspx Poster presentation of research work - a guide to poster presentation of scientific research from Newcastle University http://www.ncl.ac.uk/fms/postgrad/skills/documents/Posters2010 (select 'Open' at the message) Online poster presentations study guide from the University of Leicester http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/presentation/designing-poster/poster www.csm.ox.ac.uk/research Centre for Statistics in Medicine (University of Oxford). Statistical resources for conducting systematic reviews. Includes a glossary and a comparison of statistical software. Catalogue of Biases - Bias enters health studies at all stages and often influences the magnitude and direction of results. This catalogue has been compiled with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine to better understand the persistent presence, diversity, and impact of biases. The entries are a work in progress and describe a wide range of biases, outlining their potential impact in research studies.

Useful websites

NHS Evidence – latest published research including guidelines, reports and care pathways http://www.evidence.nhs.uk
CASP critical appraisal guidelines: checklists to help you assess research in a systematic and objective way (must be viewed through Google Chrome or Firefox) http://www.casp-uk.net/appraising-the-evidence/
Discern http://www.discern.org.uk/index.php is a valid and reliable way of assessing the quality of written health information
Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) - an information space devoted to European research and development activities http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html

NHS R&D Forum - a network for those involved in managing and supporting R&D in health and social care
http://www.rdforum.nhs.uk/
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Department of Health organisation providing details of funding, reserach guidance, news, jobs and publications http://www.nihr.ac.uk/
National Research Ethics Council - facilitates and promotes ethical research and also protects the rights and safety of research particpants http://www.nres.nhs.uk/
Medical Research Council - publicly funded organisation supporting research in medical sciences http://www.mrc.ac.uk
Wellcome Trust - global charitable fund supporting biomedical research and the medical humanities http://www.wellcome.ac.uk
BioMed Central's Writing Resources - a guide to writing and publishing a scientific manuscript http://www.biomedcentral.com/getpublished/writing-resources

Springer Author Academy - here you will find free e-learning modules about writing for publication: http://www.springer.com/societies+%26+publishing+partners/aocs?SGWID=0-145502-12-1015366-0
Think, check, submit (best viewed though Firefox or Google Chrome) - This resource offers publishing guidance on how to choose the right journal for your research
RJAH Trust research information http://www.rjah.nhs.uk/Our-Services/Research.aspx
Poster presentation of research work - a guide to poster presentation of scientific research from Newcastle University http://www.ncl.ac.uk/fms/postgrad/skills/documents/Posters2010 (select 'Open' at the message)
Online poster presentations study guide from the University of Leicester http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/presentation/designing-poster/poster
www.csm.ox.ac.uk/research Centre for Statistics in Medicine (University of Oxford). Statistical resources for conducting systematic reviews. Includes a glossary and a comparison of statistical software.
Catalogue of Biases - Bias enters health studies at all stages and often influences the magnitude and direction of results. This catalogue has been compiled with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine to better understand the persistent presence, diversity, and impact of biases. The entries are a work in progress and describe a wide range of biases, outlining their potential impact in research studies.

Examples of impact
The library service has recently conducted literature searches on: - Exercise and manual therapy for Plantar Fasciitis - Hydrotheraphy for rheumatoid arthritis - Osteoarthritis and cell senescence - Dementia and Falls - Use of computer simulation for laparoscopy 100% of our literature searches are supplied within 3 days, or to a timescale agreed with the user 100% of completed searches were rated as ‘completely or mostly relevant’ to the search request by survey respondents When asked about the impact of a literature search one user responded that "it helped me go from an average level of knowledge in a specialist field to presenting on the topic as if I were an expert!" and another "picked up some papers I had missed of recent import". General feedback: "Please find a copy of one of the papers that you helped get papers for that was published last week. I very much appreciate your help with getting the papers and there is an acknowledgement in the manuscript."

Examples of impact

The library service has recently conducted literature searches on:

- Exercise and manual therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

- Hydrotheraphy for rheumatoid arthritis

- Osteoarthritis and cell senescence

- Dementia and Falls

- Use of computer simulation for laparoscopy

100% of our literature searches are supplied within 3 days, or to a timescale agreed with the user

100% of completed searches were rated as ‘completely or mostly relevant’ to the search request by survey respondents

When asked about the impact of a literature search one user responded that "it helped me go from an average level of knowledge in a specialist field to presenting on the topic as if I were an expert!" and another "picked up some papers I had missed of recent import".

General feedback:

"Please find a copy of one of the papers that you helped get papers for that was published last week. I very much appreciate your help with getting the papers and there is an acknowledgement in the manuscript."

Staff publications
See the latest staff publications list

We welcome your feedback. If you have any suggestions for further useful resources or links you would like adding to this page, please contact us.