New interface for health related databases

From the 1st August 2008 the new and improved Search 2.0 on the National Library for Health website is your search interface for searching health related databases (Medline, CINAHL etc.). To find out more about Search 2.0 please link here.


The Integrated Library Service (ILS) is providing training on using this new interface; for details and to book your place please link here.


We will soon be launching a Library Helpsheet to assist you with this new interface. Watch this space!

New Library Helpsheets launched

The Integrated Library Service (ILS) has added the following titles to its expanding series of Library Helpsheets:


Library Helpsheet 7: Working with Adobe Acrobat Reader and PDFs
This helpsheet covers the basic functions of Adobe Acrobat Reader and how to save, print and manipulate PDFs.

Library Helpsheet 8: Evaluating web resources
When searching for health information on the internet, evaluating the web resources you encounter is vital. This helpsheet offers tips on evaluating the relevence, authority, objectivity and accuracy of web resources. It also contains a quick guide to URLs and can point you towards further online resources.

Library Helpsheet 9: How to register for the Map of Medicine
The Map of Medicine (MoM) is an online clinical knowledge resource, of which Wirral Local Health Authority is an early adopter. This helpsheet will guide you through registering with the Map of Medicine site. The Integrated Library Service also provides training on the Map of Medicine; if you are interested please visit our training pages here.

All Library Helpsheets can be picked up in either of our site libraries and are available to download from the Library Helpsheets section of our website.

NLH Document of the Week: Methods for evaluating interventions for improving patient safety and quality

Series of four articles in the journal Quality and Safety in Health Care.

This series of four articles provides an analysis of methodology for evaluating interventions to improve patient safety and healthcare quality improvement. NHS Athens passwords may be required to access these resources, and can be obtained from the National Library for Health.

View editorial
Part 1: Conceptualising and developing interventions
Part 2: Study design
Part 3: End points and measurement
Part 4: One size does not fit all

Citation: An epistemology of patient safety research: a framework for study design and interpretation
DP Stevens
Quality and Safety in Health Care, 2008, 17 (3)

NLH Document of the Week: Design of guideline implementation strategies did influence adherence to guidelines

Paper looking at whether ease of use, incentives or education would increase guideline implementation.

The authors of this paper looked at the best methods for ensuring that physicians apply guidelines. They found that "guideline implementation strategies that were designed to reduce physician time pressure and task complexity were the only ones that improved performance." Incentives had little effect, and education was not sufficient for increasing implementation of guidelines.

View print version

Citation: An observational study of the effectiveness of practice guideline implementation strategies examined according to physicians' cognitive stylesLA Green, L Wyszewianski, JC Lowery, CP Kowalski, SL KreinImplementation Science, 2007, 2(41)

Visual Impairment and People with Learning Disabilities

The National Library for Health (NLH) Eyes and Vision Specialist Library has commissioned an article on Visual Impairment and People with Learning Disabilities, available from their homepage at http://www.library.nhs.uk/Eyes/.

Written by John Northfield, Clinical Lead of the NLH Learning Disabilities Specialist Library, it provides a brief introduction to the topic, with links to further information and resources. Links to full-text articles are provided wherever possible, or to PubMed or publisher abstracts where full-text is charged for.

NLH Document of the Week: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) plays a major part in evidence-based decision-making

This project was part of a year-long study: Financing sustainable health care in Europe.

The report addresses the concepts and controversy surrounding Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Europe, with a particular focus on selected Member States including Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The authors conclude that "HTA can play a valuable role in health care decision-making, but the process must be transparent, timely, relevant, in-depth and usable".

Click here to read the full report.

Citation: Ensuring value for money in health care: the role of health technology assessment in the European UnionC Sorenson, M Drummond, P KanavosEuropean Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2008.

NLH National Knowledge Week: Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures 30th June - 4th July 2008

The Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures National Knowledge Week provides a collection of Guest Editorials, by leading experts, on important topics in this area. In addition, an Annual Evidence Update has been prepared which represents the outcome of a detailed search of the literature published in the last 12 months up to the end of May 2008. The search has been for predominantly high-quality evidence in the form of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Links are also provided to any new guidelines, technology reviews or information about forthcoming material relevant to this topic.

For more information please visit the Musculoskeletal Specialist Library and the
Trauma and Orthopaedics Specialist Library.

BMA and British Library charges for Inter Library Loans

The following charges are now in operation for Inter Library Loan requests:
BMA Library document supply (articles) - £3.60
BMA Library inter library loans (books) - £3.60
British Library document supply (articles)- £5.85
British Library inter library loans (books)- £9.00
British Library book renewals - £3.10
This is due to both organisations raising their prices.
For more details about the ILS Inter Library Loans service please link here.

The final report of Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review is published

Yesterday saw the publication of the Next Stage Review - High Quality Care For All.

There were three main documents published:

1) High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review final report (30th June 2008) by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham KBE.
The final report of Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review. It responds to the 10 SHA strategic visions and sets out a vision for an NHS with quality at its heart. This link includes the full document and a summary version. For a very brief summary see Darzi review: At-a-glance (BBC) or Main points of the Darzi report (Financial Times).

2) The National Health Service Constitution - a consultation paper (30th June 2008)
The proposed NHS Constitution marking 60 years of the NHS, is about safeguarding its core principles and values for the next generation, whilst setting a clear direction for the future. It reaffirms rights to NHS services, free of charge and with equal access for all, and it enshrines patient rights to choice and to NICE-approved drugs recommended by clinicians. A selection of documents related to the consultation are presented.

3) A high quality workforce: NHS Next Stage review (30th June 2008)
More detail on the workforce recommendations in the NHS Next Stage review.
The main publications from the Next Stage review are gathered here. This includes the current documents, visions for better healthcare from the 9 SHAs outside London and interim guidance. London was already covered by Healthcare for London: A framework for action.

Annual Evidence Update on the Health Needs of People with Learning Disabilities: 30th June - 4th July 2008

An update of the evidence on this topic from the NLH Learning Disabilities Specialist Library.

People with learning disabilities have a higher level of health needs than the general population, many of which are unmet. The Learning Disability Health Needs Annual Evidence Update provides bibliographies of published research for some key health issues:
* Cancer
* Coronary heart disease
* Epilepsy
* Challenging behaviour
* Respiratory illness

We know that many people with learning disabilities do not to seek out support from the healthcare system unaided, and that healthcare issues can remain undiagnosed or untreated. Healthcare professionals in primary care have infrequent contact with people with learning disabilities, and few have had specific training, although the requirement to offer Health Action Planning to people with learning disabilities to help identify healthcare needs should improve outcomes.

For more information visit:
http://www.library.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities

Annual Evidence Update on Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures: 30th June - 4th July 2008

An update of the evidence on this topic from the NLH Musculoskeletal and Trauma & Orthopaedics Specialist Libraries.

The Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures Annual Evidence Update will provide a collection of Guest Editorials, by leading experts, on important topics in this area. In addition, an Annual Evidence Update has been prepared which represents the outcome of a detailed search of the literature published in the last 12 months up to the end of May 2008. The search has been for predominantly high-quality evidence in the form of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We will also provide links to any new guidelines, technology reviews or information about forthcoming material relevant to this topic.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/musculoskeletal and http://www.library.nhs.uk/trauma_orthopaedics