Our experts are able to offer a range of training for all NCA staff and students.
Most training is currently delivered via Microsoft Teams. Please use the form at the bottom of the page to book a session.
Our Evidence Searching sessions are tailored to your needs. We can offer training and ongoing support in the following areas:
- Developing a search strategy
- Keyword, free text and subject heading searching
- Recommended sources for your search
- Database searching, tips and tricks (e.g. truncation, proximity searching)
- Saving and managing your resources
We've also collated a range of training resources to support your work or study. Access these through the following webpage: Finding, Appraising and Citing Evidence
Please note that searching for a systematic review requires highly advanced searching methods, not suitable for a literature review.
A systematic review is more exhaustive and complex than a literature review as it includes both published and unpublished literature. Conducting a systematic review is a comprehensive process and uses repeatable analytical methods to collect secondary data and analyse it.
It aims to identify, appraise and synthesise all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.
Our Information Specialists are trained in searching for systematic reviews and can offer training and advice in the following areas:
- Registering your review protocol
- Exploratory searching
- Developing a clear and focussed research question
- Building an effective search strategy
- Searching databases and trials registers
- Managing results
Please see the following webpage for guidance around conducting systematic reviews: Systematic Review Guidance
If you'd like an Information Specialist embedded into your systematic review team, please contact evidence@nca.nhs.uk. Leave your contact details and we'll be in touch to discuss your requirements and determine the level of support we're able to offer.
To critically appraise research is to examine its trustworthiness, value and relevance in a particular context.
What we can cover:
- Importance of critical appraisal
- Levels of evidence
- Study types
- Critical appraisal tools
- Bias
- Basic statistics for understanding research
We also offer a session on Critically Appraising for Antiracism - Recognising Racial Bias in Research. If you would like us to include this in your session, please mention this in the comments section of the booking form.
Please see the following webpage for critical appraisal tools and resources: Finding, Appraising and Citing Evidence.
We can offer a quick tour of any or all of our resources, including access, navigation and key features:
If you need help with citing and referencing, avoiding plagiarism and copyright infringement of images, our staff are more than happy to support you.
We've also collated citing/referencing guidelines from local universities. Please see the following webpage: Finding, Appraising and Citing Evidence.
Whether you have new starters in your department, students on placement, or just want to learn more about what the Library can offer your team, we'd love to get to know you and tell you more about our fantastic services and resources.
We tailor our inductions to focus on the needs of your team, and they can be as brief or in-depth as you like.
Book a Training Session
A member of the Library team will contact you to acknowledge your request within 24hours. If you have any questions,please email evidence@nca.nhs.uk.
Have you attended a training session recently? To help us develop our training sessions, please complete the feedback form.