1. Introduction to the HSMC Library &Introduction to the HSMC Library &
Information ResourcesInformation Resources
HSMC Library & Information ServiceHSMC Library & Information Service
Rachel PosanerRachel Posaner
20132013

2. Outline of the sessionOutline of the session
• Who, What & Where of the HSMC Library
• Introduction to Literature Searching
• HMIC Demonstration
• Questions

3. HSMC Library & Information ServiceHSMC Library & Information Service

4. WhoWho we arewe are
Emma, Wendy, Lucy & RachelEmma, Wendy, Lucy & Rachel

5. WhoWho are weare we
We are a specialist
library focusing on
health policy,
management and
leadership.
We are focused
on keeping
ahead with new
technology to
enhance the
“learning
experience”
We cater for the
needs of distance
users by focusing
on access to
information
rather than on
holdings
We support a range of
users both from
academia and the NHS
including HSMC staff,
Public Health
Birmingham, the East
Midlands Cancer Network
and the Nuffield Trust in
London.

6. WhatWhat services we canservices we can
offer youoffer you
Virtual:
FindIt@Bham:
•Catalogues
•eJournals
•eBooks
•Databases
•Web Resources
Traditional:
•Specialist collection
www.hsmc.bham.ac.uk
•Free Postal loans
•Free articles from the
British Library
Education & Training
•Advice /guidance on
how to source, search
and evaluate the
literature
•Use of Referencing
software e.g. Ref Man
Current
Awareness:
•Daily Digest
•Primary Care
•Leadership
•Commissioning
•Public Health
•Snappy Search

7. •Blackboard:
•HSMC Library information
•Introduction to the NHS
•Find all your reading lists in one place
•Links to full text items and catalogue provided
for you
Library Resources
HSMC Library Website

8. FindingFinding BooksBooks
Example: Le Grand, J. (2007)
The other invisible hand: delivering public
services through choice and competition
Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press

9. Example: Dickinson H, Freeman T,
Robinson S & Williams I (2011)
Resource scarcity and priority-setting:
From management to leadership in the
rationing of health care?
Public Money & Management Journal 31 (5)
: 363 –370
FindingFinding ArticlesArticles

10. Four main steps:Four main steps:
1.1. Develop a comprehensive search strategyDevelop a comprehensive search strategy
2.2. Search the database/sSearch the database/s
3.3. Identify & analyse your resultsIdentify & analyse your results
4.4. Retrieve relevant articlesRetrieve relevant articles
Doing a literature searchDoing a literature search

11. • Start by identifying your topic and having a quick look onStart by identifying your topic and having a quick look on
Google Scholar/NHS Evidence to try and identify the keyGoogle Scholar/NHS Evidence to try and identify the key
authors/publications in this area or if there are existingauthors/publications in this area or if there are existing
reviews.reviews.
• Start to put together a search strategy based on the keyStart to put together a search strategy based on the key
words/concepts used to describe your topic. (search sheet)words/concepts used to describe your topic. (search sheet)
• A good strategy will ensure that your results are relevantA good strategy will ensure that your results are relevant
and save you time in the long run as you will be able to re-and save you time in the long run as you will be able to re-
run it on different databases.run it on different databases.
Where to start…Where to start…

12. Topic 2:
Depression
Topic 2:
Depression
Topic 1:
Patient experiences
Topic 1:
Patient experiences
’Discuss the concept of patient experiences with
regards to the treatment of depression”
.

13. SynonymsSynonyms are words or phrases that have the same or similar meaningsare words or phrases that have the same or similar meanings
e.g. Gp,e.g. Gp, General Practitioner, Family physician , DoctorsGeneral Practitioner, Family physician , Doctors
TruncationTruncation is the use of the symbols*or $.is the use of the symbols*or $.
e.g.e.g. commission* will pick up commission, commissions and commissioning.commission* will pick up commission, commissions and commissioning.
Alternative Spellings -Alternative Spellings - Are there alternative spellings/Americanisms that you mightAre there alternative spellings/Americanisms that you might
encounter?encounter?
e.g. organisation or organizatione.g. organisation or organization
SnowballingSnowballing is where you look at the relevant items retrieved and look at how are they indexed.is where you look at the relevant items retrieved and look at how are they indexed.
i.e. what keywords/Subject headings have been usedi.e. what keywords/Subject headings have been used
Citation trackingCitation tracking is where you find new references by looking at who has referenced theis where you find new references by looking at who has referenced the
relevant items that you have found.relevant items that you have found.
Narrowing/Widening your search your Boolean operators…….Narrowing/Widening your search your Boolean operators…….
Things to think about when doing yourThings to think about when doing your
search strategysearch strategy

14. Boolean OperatorsBoolean Operators
Will allow you to widen or narrow a search
Keyword Boolean Keyword Action
Patient
experiences
OR Patient attitudes Broadens the search – will find
articles about either patient
experiences OR patient
attitudes
Patient
experiences
AND Depression Focuses the search – will find
articles with both words in
Patient
experience AND
Depression
NOT United States NOT United States will find
articles about Patient
experiences AND Depression
but will exclude US material.

15. Limiting your searchLimiting your search
You can limit your search in a variety of ways including:You can limit your search in a variety of ways including:
Language …Language …English language items onlyEnglish language items only
Publication date…Publication date…items published from 2009 onwardsitems published from 2009 onwards
Material Type…Material Type… journal articles onlyjournal articles only
Country of Origin….Country of Origin….UK based materials onlyUK based materials only
(remember alternative spellings for non-UK material)(remember alternative spellings for non-UK material)
Age or Gender…..Age or Gender…..over 80’s/elderlyover 80’s/elderly

16. Which databases/Sources to use:Which databases/Sources to use:
• Medline: biomedical literature, US focusMedline: biomedical literature, US focus
• Web of Science: multidisciplinary, covering science /social sciencesWeb of Science: multidisciplinary, covering science /social sciences
• CINAHL: nursing and allied health disciplinesCINAHL: nursing and allied health disciplines
• ABI Inform/Proquest : business and managementABI Inform/Proquest : business and management
• Google Scholar – searches across scholarly material across allGoogle Scholar – searches across scholarly material across all
subject areas.subject areas.
• NHS Evidence –quality assured evidence/best practiced, from NICENHS Evidence –quality assured evidence/best practiced, from NICE

17. HMIC
(Health Management Information Consortium)
Access via FindIt@Bham : http://findit.bham.ac.uk
Incorporating the King's Fund, Nuffield Institute, and
Department of Health Databases.
Includes bibliographic references often with abstracts
of; journal articles, monographs, reports, government
documents, and, grey literature all focusing on health
policy and management related information

18. Downloading your referencesDownloading your references
Downloading References:Downloading References:
You can download your references by:You can download your references by:
•E-mailE-mail
•PrintPrint
•Export to reference management softwareExport to reference management software
Advantages of Reference Software: e.g. Refworks http://www.i-cite.bham.ac.uk/refworks.shtmlAdvantages of Reference Software: e.g. Refworks http://www.i-cite.bham.ac.uk/refworks.shtml
•All your results are in one placeAll your results are in one place
•You can get rid of duplicatesYou can get rid of duplicates
•You can manually add other useful referencesYou can manually add other useful references
•You can produce a comprehensive bibliography of searchYou can produce a comprehensive bibliography of search
•resultsresults
For further help/advice ask a member of the library teamFor further help/advice ask a member of the library team

19. Further help/advice
Contact Rachel Posaner or Emma Green to arrange a one-to one session with to help with literature
searching via:
•Blackboard
•Via the library’s homepage at
• http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/hsmc-library/index.aspx
• “Ask a librarian” service (IM)
•Quick links to key resources
•Contact details
•Try “A-Z index & FAQ” link
•Facebook/Twitter/Skype
•Virtual Library Clinics – new!
•Any questions?

20. Any Questions