Getting Started in Queensland Health Libraries: Locating & Interpreting Health Information

This page points you to some useful databases and websites to get you started in accessing quality health information.

• Accessss Smart Search
• BestBETS
• CKN
• Cochrane Library (Open access)   How to use Cochrane Library (tutorials)
• Campbell Collaboration (Systematic reviews on research in social and behavioural sciences)
• CupQ (Search engine for clinical evidence)
• Epistemonikos
• Finding the Evidence
• PubMed Labs (experimental site to test new PubMed features)
• NICE Evidence Search (National Institute for Health and Care Exellence  UK)
• Queensland Health Libraries
• Mednar (Medically focused deep web search engine)
• Grey Literaure for the Health Sciences (Uni of Melbourne LibGuide) 
• Semantic Scholar (Medically focused deep web search engine)

Medline, PubMed & PubMed Central
Medline is the National Library of Medicine (U.S.) journal citation database, it is a sub-set of PubMed that includes the NLM controlled vocabulary, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH^®), to index citations.

PubMed is a citation index for biomedical and life sciences literature.

PubMed Central is a repository for journal literature deposited by participating publishers and NIH Public Access Policy author manuscripts. 

(Source: NLM, 2022.)

Medline Complete (Ebsco) is available via CKN.

PubMed (How To LibGuide) / University of Texas Libraries

Access New PubMed (database)

Proximity Searching

National Network of Libraries of Medicine (US) - some online courses available.

Introduction to Literature Searching MOOC (NHS UK) - select "self-enrol".

A systematic approach to searching: an efficient and complete method to develop literature searches. / Bramer WM, de Jonge GB, Rethlefsen ML, Mast F, Kleijnen J.  Journal of the Medical Library Association, 106 (4) 2018, pp:531-541. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2018.283.

Introduction to Systematic Reviews (online self-paced course) (Stanford University)

Carrying out systematic literature reviews: an introduction. Alan Davies. British Journal of Nursing, 28 (15) 2019, 1008-1014.

How to undertake a literature search: a step-by-step guide. / Mandy Watson. British Journal of Nursing 29 (7) 2020, 431-435.

How to undertake a literature search: enhancing your search. / Julie Key. British Journal of Nursing 29 (8) 2020, 481-483.

• Queensland Health Subject Guides
• Evidence Bundles (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health)

Help Your Clients to Stay Up To Date

Please advise of any others that you think would be of value.

RSS Feeds

• ABC: Health News Australia
• Medscape
• WebMD

Statewide Current Awareness Services

Several of the Queensland Health Libraries produce monthly Current Awareness Services drawn from new files on Medline.

Current topics  include: COPD and Complex Chronic Disease, Coronary Care, Dementia, Diabetes, Falls prevention,Indigenous health, Mental health, Pressure ulcers, and, Stroke. Further information on these services are on the QHLN share drive.

Set up through Clinical Key (in CKN): log into ClinicalKey with a personal account, select your journal of interest, and click the New Issue Alerts “subscribe” link for that journal.

• Introduction to Health Services Research (Academy Health, US)
• Medline Plus (US)
•  HealthDirect
• Critical Appraisal Tools (Joanna Briggs Institute)
• What's the difference between databases? (WA Health)
• Critical Appraisal Skills Programme

Artificial Intelligence (AI) search tools can be useful for finding resources; however, they do not critically appraise or evaluate, and do not search comprehensively. 

Research Libraries Guiding Principles for Artificial Intelligence / Association of Research Libraries

What is RAG / Amazon.

Ovid Tools & Resources Portal (includes filters and training)

Library of Search Strategy Resources (LSSR) / EAHIL.

JANE - Journal/Author Name Estimator

Internet Resources: Ease the Journal Selection Process Using Manuscript Matching Software (MLA membership required).

Send us an email to suggest a new resource:

Send Email.

Browser plugins allow you to undertake tasks quickly and easily. Select and install to your device via your Internet Browser settings (see "Add-ons" or "Extensions").

Plugins / University of Kansas. School of Medicine.