Finding and reviewing the evidence
This section provides links and documents which give advice on how to search for and review evidence. The list is not intended to be exhaustive but provides a starting point for people undertaking research in this area.
Search Strategies
Get started with the NHS Health Scotland Library's brief guide to developing a search strategy and then:
- Find more detailed search strategy tips and guidance search strategy links.
- Access a selection of books on how to conduct research from NHS Health Scotland's library - these can be borrowed free of charge.
Evidence Reviews
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) publish their methods in conducting reviews within the NICE 'Methods for Development of Public Health Guidance' manual (external link).
NICE publishes evidence reviews for each set of guidance it produces (external link) - follow links through Public Health Intervention Guidance or Public Health Programme Guidance to access these reviews.
National library for public health (external link)provides access to the public health evidence base by providing access to guidelines, strategies, policies, systematic reviews, and news and events of note to the wider public health workforce.
The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination produces the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) (external link). DARE contains 15,000 abstracts of systematic reviews including over 6,000 quality assessed reviews and details of all Cochrane reviews and protocols.
AGREE (external link) is an international collaboration of researchers and policy makers who seek to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines by establishing a shared framework for their development, reporting and assessment.
The Evidence for Action team in NHS Health Scotland produce Scottish Briefings on NICE Public Health guidance, so that the material can be used in a Scottish context.
NHS Health Scotland is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
If you encounter any issues with the above named publications or external web links, please contact the Research Officer (nhs.healthscotland-researchofficer@nhs.net).
Reviewed 2 February 2011