Literature and Evidence Search Tools

Whether you're looking for information to support clinical practice, update a guideline or policy, enhance a research project, or prepare for a teaching session—we're here to help.

Our team can carry out tailored evidence searches on your behalf, saving you time and ensuring you have access to the most relevant, up-to-date information.

Click here for further information about requesting an evidence search.

Northern - Click here to request an evidence search

Eastern - Click here to request an evidence search

The NHS Knowledge and Library Search Hub gives you access to high-quality journal articles and research databases such as Medline, CINAHL Ultimate, and Trip Pro, as well as e-books, clinical decision tools, and policy resources all in one place.

Click here to access the NHS Knowledge and Library Search Hub

Click here for further help and information for the NHS Knowledge and Library Search Hub.

The Library and Knowledge Service offers a range of training sessions to help you make the most of our online resources and strengthen your evidence-based practice.

Topics include evidence searching, health literacy, critical appraisal, and more—equipping you with the skills to find, assess, and apply high-quality evidence in your work, study, or research.

Click here for further information about Information Skills Training

Northern - Click here to view training sessions available and book online

Eastern - Click here to view training sessions available

If you're undertaking complex, robust, and reproducible searches—such as for systematic reviews or research projects—your library service can support you.

We’ve collated access to key databases, covering topics from nursing and psychology to biomedical and allied health literature.

Click here to access the advanced searching databases

Critical appraisal is the process of evaluating research to determine its trustworthiness, relevance, and value. It involves assessing how a study was conducted, including its validity and applicability to practice.

Developing these skills is key to evidence-based practice and helps you make well-informed, confident decisions in clinical, research, or teaching contexts.

Click here to access critical appraisal tools and videos

Systematic reviews are rigorous, structured reviews of research evidence, held to the same standards as primary research. They follow a transparent, reproducible process and are widely used in research and policymaking to support evidence-based decisions.

Key features include clear methodology, defined stages, user involvement, and the ability to be replicated and updated.

Click here to access systematic reviews resources and videos

LibKey Nomad is a free browser extension provided by NHS England that simplifies access to full-text journal articles.

Once installed, LibKey Nomad automatically checks if an article is available through your library subscription or open access sources, providing one-click access to PDFs or full-text links.

Click here for further information about LibKey Nomad

ResearchRabbit is an innovative “citation-based literature mapping tool” available online. The scope of such tool is to optimise your time searching for references as you start planning your essay, minor project, or literature review.

Click here for further information on ResearchRabbit