Databases

PubMed
http://www.pubmed.gov

Provided by the National Library of Medicine, this reference database dates back to 1966.

TIPS for using PubMed

• Use the Limits and History features to narrow your searches.
• Use the MeSH database to find the actual term you are searching for.
• Use AND, OR, and NOT in capitals to combine terms.

Online Training Tutorials
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmed.html

BMJ Best Practice
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/

Ranked one of the best clinical decision support tools for health professionals worldwide. BMJ Best Practice takes you quickly and accurately to the latest evidence-based information, whenever and wherever you need it. It offers step by step guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and prevention updated daily using robust evidence based methodology and expert opinion.

Free access in the Republic of Ireland as it is funded by the HSE.

Cochrane Library
http://www.thecochranelibrary.com

Free access in the Republic of Ireland as it is funded by the Department of Health and Children.

TIPS for using The Cochrane Library

• Click on the LEARN section. It is well worth having a look at as it explains the various databases available.
• When you have located articles use the PDF option to Print as it retains the formatting.
• Be aware that some of the articles can be 70 pages long.

Online Training Tutorials
Cochrane Training Library Hub
https://www.wiley.com/network/cochranelibrarytraining

LENUS
https://www.lenus.ie/

Lenus, the Irish Health Research repository is the leading source for Irish research in health and social care.The Lenus collections include peer reviewed journal articles, grey literature, dissertations, reports and conference presentations. Lenus contains the publications of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) and the collected research output of over 130 health organisations past and present are all freely accessible. 

TRIP Database (Turning Research into Practice)
http://www.tripdatabase.com

It is an excellent site for Evidence Based Medicine information.

TIPS for using the TRIP database

• Using only one term can bring back a large number of results, so think of additional terms to help qualify the search e.g. asthma and steroids.
• On the results page you can filter your results based on an evidence based medicine hierarchy e.g. evidence-based synopses, systematic reviews. Use the 'Filter by' function on the right-hand side of the screen.
• It automatically searches Medline for you and displays the results.
• It searches the "Big 4" i.e. JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet and BMJ.

GP Evidence
https://gpevidence.org/

Summaries of the evidence on the benefits and harms of treatments for long term conditions. This free website was developed by the University of Oxford. 

ERIC (Education Resource Information Center) US
eric.ed.gov/

Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the US Department of Education

Coverage from 1966 to present.

TIPS for using ERIC

• Use the ERIC Thesaurus.
• Always choose the Advanced Search option.
• Limit your Publication Dates e.g. 1994 to 2004.
• Tick the "Full-text availability" if you only want results with full-text provided.

Online Training Tutorials
https://eric.ed.gov/?multimedia