Raising awareness of health literacy
Health literacy: An introduction
"Health literacy is about a person's ability to understand and use information to make decisions about their health" (NHS UK, 2021).
The Staff Library and Knowledge Service are working to increase awareness of health literacy across the Trust, by delivering regular “Introduction to health literacy” sessions. These virtual, interactive sessions are specifically designed to help you understand how to communicate better with patients to; improve patients understanding, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs for the NHS.
The next session will take place:
Thursday 2nd May 2024, 2pm to 3pm via Microsoft Teams
Please contact the Staff Library & Knowledge Service (ex 53899) to book a place.
Support for evidence-based practice
Critical appraisal
Critically Appraising the Evidence Base elearning programme
This elearning programme has been designed to enable the healthcare workforce to build confidence in the critical appraisal process when applying and evaluating research.
A list of critical appraisal videos and resources is also available to download.
Introduction to Critical Appraisal
It is important that evidence is evaluated, not just read. Critical appraisal helps you to decide whether a piece of research is trustworthy and applicable to our context at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. Our Introduction to Critical Appraisal sessions are designed to refresh or introduce the skills needed to properly evaluate research papers.
How to read a paper: an introduction to qualitative research
This is a joint session run alongside the Library & Knowledge Service at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS FT introducing critical appraisal skills for qualitative research.
There is a trend to increasing use of qualitative research in health and social care, but it remains a misunderstood form of research, it’s contribution often minimised compared to quantitative approaches.
The session will cover three key questions:
1. What are critical appraisal and evidence-based practice, why do they matter?
2. What is qualitative research and how can it help us?
3. How do we critically appraise qualitative research?
In answering these we will look at the different approaches to conducting qualitative research, highlighting good practice and the value that qualitative research can bring. We will look at two examples of qualitative research and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses using a CASP checklist.
The next session will take place:
Monday 22nd April, 1pm - 4pm, Education Centre, Fieldhead Hospital.
Please contact the Staff Library & Knowledge Service (ex 53899) to book a place.
How to read a paper: Randomised Control Trial (RCT)
During this half day session, we cover the basics of critical appraisal and how to assess research, critically appraising a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) as an example.
This session will help you to:
· Understand the importance of critical appraisal for different types of research.
· Understand the key statistical concepts used in research papers.
· Critically appraise a RCT.
A previous participant said “I learnt so much about appraising articles, useful resources and tools. Wish I knew this as a student! I will be more confident in reading and appraising articles using EBP in my daily work. Excellent course leaders. Comfortable learning environment. Fantastic session.”
The next session will take place:
Wednesday 24th April, 9:30am - 12:30pm, Trust HQ & Education Centre Pinderfields.
Please contact the Staff Library & Knowledge Service (ex 53899) to book a place.
Searching for evidence
Guidance states that healthcare professionals should practise in line with the best available evidence (NMC, 2018; GMC, 2023). The Staff Library & Knowledge Service can show you how to search for evidence to support evidence-based practice or personal study. This training is delivered in-person on a one-to-one basis. To arrange a training session please contact us.
Systematic reviews
The Science Basement Podcast - Systematic reviews
This hour long podcast episode discusses the what, why and how of a systematic review.