MBChB Phase 1 SSC Critical Analysis - Library Practical (2015)

Firstly, we hope that you enjoyed the library practical session, here's a reminder of what we looked at in the session.

Connecting to the Drug Adverts

We started the session by navigating to the adverts that have been chosen for this module. In order to do this you will need to log into MUSE and select StarPlus - The Library Catalogue from the 'My Services' menu. 

MUSE - My Services - StarPlus - MyResource Lists - MED111

Once you are on the StarPlus landing page, go to the box at the bottom of the page called 'Reading Lists' and follow the link for 'MyResource Lists'. In the 'Search Reading Lists' box type 'MED111' and follow the results for 'MED111 - Critical Analysis - Drug Advertisments.' 

The resource list contains lists for each advert containing the advert itself and the references for each advert. Once you have chosen the advert, click the 'View web link' option to view it as a PDF.

Looking at the references in the drug advertisement

Most of the adverts have some references which support the claims made within the advert, we've added these to the reading list for you, on the list for the advert you should also see links to resources referenced.

Remember, some adverts have only have one or two references whilst others have a lot more.

A few of the adverts have a reference which is unavailable, as we have already attempted to obtain the reference for you but found it unavailable you will not be expected to  read this reference.

Planning your search

Identify the concepts to search for within the advert. Look for:

• The condition (or outcome)
• The drug name (generic not brand)

You may also need to look for the way the drug is delivered, this may be the unique selling point.

Searching for background information - using the British National Formulary (BNF)

The BNF provides health care professionals with up to date information, indications, contraindications, side effects, dosage and price for a wide range of drugs. This can be accessed electronically, or in paper format at the RHH at shelfmark QV738.

Find the BNF and the Medicines Compendium in Useful Resources.

In the session we navigated to the BNF from the resource list, but you can also access it via StarPlus - search for "British National Formulary" in the University collections tab.

We searched for the generic drug name, not the brand name.

Medicines Compendium also provides up to date Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs) and Patient Information Leaflets for different medicines, use the brand name in this website. Again you can access this from the resource list in the 'recommended reading' section.

- using StarPlus

A good place to look for information on the condition your drug is trying to treat is the Library catalogue StarPlus. Search for a general textbook to give you a broad overview. If the item you want is out on loan, place a request! 

Searching for medical research - using databases

MEDLINE via OvidSP and the Cochrane Library are useful databases to look at.

MEDLINE via OvidSP is the main databases for finding medical research. Search for both your generic drug name and the condition in the basic search box and then use the additional limits to focus your search on high quality evidence such as randomised controlled trials and systematic review.

The Cochrane Library is a small medical database, but particularly useful when looking for systematic reviews (Cochrane Reviews).

The videos below give a quick demonstration of how to search for systematic reviews in the Cochrane Library, as well as randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews in MEDLINE via Ovid.

Further Resources

The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), is a useful resource when looking at appraising research carried out on your subject, it has lots of useful tools and checklists to assist you.

Health Talk provides an insight into the real life experiences of patients, this may be something to take into account when looking at the adverts. When using sources of information that use the patient perspective, look for 'The Information Standard' mark, this mark means the website has been assessed to check the information produced.

Information regarding Athens accounts can be found here.

Further Support

If you need more information, contact Anthea or Cat from your Liaison Team for Medicine, Dentistry and Health.

MBChB Phase 1 SSC Critical Analysis Library Practical

Firstly, we hope that you enjoyed the library practical sessions last Tuesday and Wednesday.  Here's a reminder of what we went through in the sessions.

The Library Practical

Finding the adverts

Find the adverts from MUSE - My services - StarPlus-
MyResource Lists - Seatrch 'Me

We started the session by navigating to the adverts that have been chosen for this module.  In order to do this, you will need to log into MUSE and select StarPlus - The Library Catalogue from the 'My services' menu.

Once you are on the StarPlus landing page, go to the box at the bottom of the page called 'Reading Lists' and follow the link for 'MyResource Lists'.  In the 'Search Reading Lists' box type MED111, follow the search result for 'MED111 - Critical Analysis - Drug Advertisements'

Once you have found your advert from the list, click on the 'View web link' icon, your selected advert will open in PDF format.

Looking at the references in the drug adverts.

Most of the adverts have some references included which aim to support the claims made within the advert.

History of Medicine

Hello to all our first year UGs in The Medical School.  You will now be well underway with your 'History of Medicine' assignment, so here's a little reminder of what we went through in your Library induction session:

The Video

StarPlus - The Library Catalogue

StarPlus is the library catalogue, it gives you a single starting point to find information.  To access StarPlus, sign into MUSE using your university username and password and then look for StarPlus - Library Catalogue under 'My Services'.  Remember to sign into StarPlus by clicking 'University Members' on the landing page.

Use the 'University Collections' tab to search for books, ebooks and journals.  A good medical textbook will be a great place to start your research.

Use the 'Articles and more' tab to complete a basic search of journal articles in your subject area. They provide a more detailed view of your subject area and are the best source of academic research.

If you need further assistance using StarPlus, take a look at our Information Skills Resource - Using StarPlus

The Databases

You can also use specialist databases to find information on your subject area.  MEDLINE via OvidSP  is the major international medical database. Take a look at the video above to see a screencast of how to search it for material relating to the history of medicine. Or take a look at our online tutorial .

The Websites

You can always find lots of information online.  In our video we looked at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the Thackray Medical Museum, and The Wellcome Trust, but you will need to check the quality of the websites that you are using.  If you are unsure how to evaluate information, take a look at our tutorial.

Remember...Think Critically!

If you need more information, contact your Liaison Team for Medicine, Dentistry & Health.

History of Medicine

Hello again to all the first year UGs in the Medical School I saw yesterday. Here's the video we've produced to help you with your first assignment on the history of medicine.

                     

If you'd like anymore advice about researching your chosen topic call into the Library's drop-in clinic; Tuesdays 12-2pm at the Health Sciences Library, Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

10 of the Best: 6# MEDLINE

After a short break we’re back with our feature ‘10 of the Best’, promoting some of the top information resources for students, staff and researchers across the Faculty. And this month we’re looking at Medline. 

Now you can probably tell that we’re not ranking these top 10 resources in order because otherwise Medline would almost certainly be up there at number 1. Containing more than 8.7 million records and with over 5,516 journals indexed, Medline is probably the most comprehensive database of medical and health care literature available. So if you’re looking for journal articles or conference proceedings to support your studies or research, Medline is the place to go. 

But how do you go about searching such a mammoth database? 

Well before you do anything you need to make sure that you’re logged into MUSE. Medline is available via a subscription paid for by the Library so if you want full access wherever you are, make sure you log into MUSE first. Then from the Library tab access the Library's catalogue StarPlus and  search for 'Medline'. From the search results select 'Medline via OvidSP' and click 'view online'. 

Once you’re connected to Medline you can then begin your search. There are both basic and advanced search options but for the most thorough search you should always choose the advanced search box. From here you can link your keywords to the database’s subject headings, ensuring none of your search terms are missed, and you can explode or focus your results as needed. 

Check out our Medline tutorial for a full guide on using Medline as well as all our top tips on getting the most out of your search; 

https://librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/shef-only/databases/medline.html

Drop-In Clinic

Medline or CINAHL causing you problems?
Successful literature searching rather elusive?
What is WOK, who is Cochrane?

Come along to the Drop-In Clinic:

1pm-2pm every Tuesday - NHS IT room
(Through the double doors, on the right, just past the university's computer rooms).

Jade Goody: Depraved or deprived?

Jade Goody: depraved or deprived?
Famous for merely being famous, Jade Goody has been a part of our everyday culture since she was catapulted to fame by the Big Brother series in 2002. Her death this week, at the tragically young age of 27 made headline news in every national paper. Love her, loath her or have an insistent indifference, it is difficult not to have a view.

It is easy to pass judgment on Jade's lifestyle, her antics have had parents the length and breadth of the country shuddering with disbelief. But, would any of us actually have been all that different if we had been exposed to the social circumstances which dominated Jade's young life?

Jade's hugely public death from cervical cancer has increased health checks amongst young people in our society in a way that most clinicians or politicians can only dream about.

It is indeed good news that Pap smears have risen by 20% since Jade used her case to promote uptake. However, if it is a truism that there is no more powerful therapy than prevention perhaps what we, as a society, might do is to look at the research evidence on aetiological (causation) factors of Jade's ill-health and use this in a non-judgmental way to help the young and vulnerable people in our society.

To retrieve best evidence on the aetiology of disease search Medline and use the term 'risk' in combination with a MeSH search of your disease.

The screenshots below show you how.

For someone who has been dismissed repeatedly as an uncouth, uneducated non-entity Jade Goody has had more influence on the health of the nation in her short lifetime than whole teams of healthcare workers seem able to achieve in their entire careers. Jade Goody: depraved or deprived? But for the grace of God go I ...

Vic

Retrieving evidence on the aetiology of disease

1. Connect to Ovid Medline via MUSE-Library-Subject databases-alphabetical list-O-OvidSP-Connect-Medline 1950-2009 (for the full archive)


2. Select Advanced Ovid search to facilitate MeSH searching, enter the condition and click on search. MeSH (thesaurus) searching is recommended because of the increased recall facilitated by the inclusion of all synonyms.

Evidence based medicine: a soft option?

Evidence based medicine: a soft option?

On Saturday I went along to Weston Park Museum to visit the Medical Students’ Teddy Bear Hospital.



Green Teddy visits Radiology!

As a medical librarian I was keen to find out if clinical decisions in the teddy bear hospital were being made according to the best evidence!

Take Green Teddy for example, brought in by my 6 year old daughter Annabel who was concerned that his obstinate refusal to go in the washing machine set him at high risk for contracting an infection. Fortunately a thorough consultation was undertaken by Dr Hannah who quickly spotted that poor old Green Ted was also suffering from what appeared to be the early signs of alopecia. She was rightly concerned that washing Green Ted might aggravate his alopecia and that this was perhaps a contraindication in his care.

I spoke to Teddy Hospital organisers, final year medical students, Abi Jones and Emily Lees to find out how their decision making was influenced and if they would use the research available from the Health Sciences Library to influence their decisions!

As Abi quickly pointed out, the evidence base for treating soft toys is very limited and is largely based on the judgement and experience of the teddy bear doctors!
However I was assured that clinical guidelines, systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials would be used to influence their decision making, whenever they were available.

The library might not always be able to help with soft toy medicine but it is here to support evidence based practice in the clinical setting. We can guide you through the hierarchy of evidence to support your clinical practice. Here are some resources that you might use …

The National Library of Guidelines is the index to retrieve all clinical guidelines
www.library.nhs.uk/guidelinesfinder/

The Cochrane Library indexes all systematic reviews
www.thecochranelibrary.co.uk

Ovid Medline is the key resource for searching for randomized controlled trials (retrieving just rcts from Medline can be done using the publication type limit)
Connect via MUSE-Library-Databases

Thank you Abi, Emily and all involved, for organising the Teddy Bear Hospital. My children and their friends had a fantastic time. As for Green Teddy … we have settled on a gentle hand wash :-)


Dr Abi and Dr Emily with a 'patient'