Hello and welcome! My name is Amy Ferguson, and I’m a medical librarian who is passionate about helping healthcare professionals, researchers, and students navigate the vast and complex world of biomedical literature and healthcare evidence. I have worked closely with clinicians, students, and researchers to refine search strategies, conduct systematic reviews, and ensure they can access the best available evidence for decision-making.
I started this blog to share my knowledge and strategies for efficiently and effectively finding the best available evidence. Whether you’re conducting a systematic review, searching for clinical guidelines, or simply trying to stay up to date with the latest medical literature, my goal is to make healthcare evidence more accessible and manageable.
Why Effective Literature Searching Matters
Finding high-quality evidence isn’t as simple as typing keywords into Google or even PubMed. Healthcare professionals often struggle with:
- Information overload – There’s too much research, and not all is reliable.
- Time constraints – Busy clinicians and researchers need efficient search methods.
- Access issues – Not all research is freely available, making it challenging to retrieve full-text articles.
- Search strategy limitations – Poorly structured searches can lead to missing critical evidence or retrieving irrelevant results.
A well-crafted literature search can make all the difference in clinical decision-making, policy development, and patient care. By refining search skills and leveraging the right tools, professionals can save time, improve research quality, and enhance patient outcomes.
This blog will empower you with the skills and strategies to refine your searches, optimize results, and ultimately enhance the quality of healthcare evidence you rely on.
What You Can Expect from This Blog
At Healthcare Evidence Search Lab, I’ll share insights and strategies to help you search smarter, not harder. Upcoming posts will include:
- Comparisons of different research tools and databases to help you choose the right ones.
- Tips for conducting systematic reviews and crafting reproducible search strategies.
- Reviews of key research tools and databases, including hidden features that can refine your results.
- Common pitfalls in literature searching and how to avoid them.
- AI tools and tips to help you find and use evidence.
Whether you’re new to literature searching or looking to sharpen your skills, this blog will offer practical, actionable advice.
Essential Resources to Kickstart Your Healthcare Evidence Search
To give you a preview of what’s to come, here are some of my go-to resources for mastering literature searching and evidence synthesis:
- Carrie Price’s YouTube Channel – Carrie Price is an expert in systematic review searching and a co-creator of MLA’s Essential Searching Skills for Librarians on Systematic Review Teams course. Her channel features concise, informative videos on search strategies, systematic review methodologies, and more.
- Evidence-Based Practice Research Guide – USML Libraries – There are many fantastic EBP research guides out there, but this one stands out. Organized around the 5 A’s of Evidence-Based Practice (Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, and Assess), it provides clear explanations and links to valuable resources.
- Right Review Tool – Not sure whether you need a systematic review, scoping review, or another type of evidence synthesis? This interactive tool asks a few key questions and recommends the best type of review for your research goals.
These resources are just the beginning—stay tuned for more expert tips, tutorials, and in-depth guides! 🚀
Join the healthcare evidence conversation!
I’m so glad you’re here! Whether you’re a clinician looking for the latest research, a student navigating the world of evidence-based practice, or a researcher diving into a systematic review, this blog is for you.
Literature searching can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. My goal is to make evidence searching easier, more efficient, and even enjoyable by sharing practical strategies, expert tips, and helpful resources.
I’d love to hear from you! What challenges do you face when searching for healthcare evidence? What topics would you like me to cover? Feel free to leave a comment, introduce yourself, or reach out—I’m excited to build this community with you.
Let’s power evidence-based practice, one search at a time! 🚀
