Evidence searches for general interest or CPD

Guidance for this type of search.

Notes

The suggested time to allocate to this search: 1-3 hours.

Please read:

  • "All evidence searches" (see "Quick links") before proceeding
  • and the "Supplement" section for examples of this type of search

Planning

Do not prioritise this search or allow too much time to it, especially if “general interest” is stressed by the requester.

This can go on the backburner until more important searches have been taken care of; deadlines for “general interest” searches will typically be quite relaxed.

Searches for CPD purposes may be going towards course assignments (see Evidence Searching for Coursework/Study) and so there may be a stricter deadline.

If possible, offer training to a requester that has stressed CPD as the purpose for the search, as learning the skill of searching is further evidence of CPD itself.

Execution

Searches for general interest in particular need not be completely comprehensive, and can be approached like a less intensive search for research/publication (see Evidence Searching to Support Research/Writing for Publication).

A search of your library catalogue for general or introductory texts may be appropriate, especially if the topic is outside of your requester’s area of expertise or professional specialty.  Try:

Research starters

A search of the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub can retrieve “Research Starter” topics presented at the start of your results page. “Research Starters” can also be selected from the “Databases” limits tab.

Clinical decision support tools

Are useful sources for overviews and can serve as a good entry point on a subject. Direct requesters towards these or share entries with them. For CPD searches, Clinical Decision Support tools can log the time that requesters spend looking through them, producing certificates and reflective learning forms as evidence of their learning – send your requester instructions for using these features (they will need personal accounts).

High tier evidence

Sources like the Cochrane Library (especially their Special Collections and Cochrane Clinical Answers pages) and the Trip Database (using the secondary evidence filter) may also prove to be useful starting points or gateways for your requester.

For CPD searches specifically, try actually including “CPD” and “continuing professional development” (and variations) amongst your search terms, and using CPD or broader educational subject headings within databases.

Consider doing the following:

  • look within professional associations’ or Royal Colleges’ websites for materials that you will not be able to access, but you can point them towards
  • search eLearning for Healthcare in case there are useful courses/modules on your requester’s topic
  • search Future Learn in case there are useful courses on your requester’s topic
  • Google searches may return useful learning resources produced by and for fellow professionals. You could try limiting Google searches to a specific domain using the site search feature e.g. site:org.uk
  • YouTube and other social media may contain useful video and other multimedia learning aids (Facebook groups, Twitter/X feeds or lists, etc.)
  • search for any local help that your Trust offers staff, especially if the topic is related to “soft skills” (management, leadership) via your intranet, or make enquires with your education and/or learning and development department directly

Results

Include instructions for using the CPD features of Clinical Decision Support tools, or instructions for accessing resources (specifying any that you cannot yourself access but the requester can).

Include notice of any conferences or courses that you think could be of-interest that you spot when searching.

For general interest searches, offer further help or a subsequent search once the requester has delved into the subject, if they decide to delve deeper.

Offer your current awareness services to the requester: set up an alert based on your search strategy, or via Knowledgeshare, or direct them to an appropriate update from the Library Knowledge Services (North) Current Awareness directory.