Tips and Tricks of Literature Searching

This one-hour course on literature searching strategies in medical research is designed to help beginners enhance their research skills by providing tips and techniques for effectively searching the literature.

The course will cover the basics of literature searching, including how to identify and select appropriate databases, how to formulate effective search queries, and how to refine search results to yield relevant and reliable sources. It will also provide guidance on SILO and synthesis methods of searching.

Participants should attend this course to improve their ability to conduct literature searches and effectively identify the most relevant and reliable sources for their research. Whether they are students, researchers, or healthcare professionals, the course will equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct literature searches that are accurate, comprehensive, and reliable.

Upon completion of this course, learners will have a better understanding of how to develop and execute effective literature searching strategies for medical research. They will be able to identify appropriate databases and search terms, refine their search results, and critically evaluate the sources they find. By mastering these skills, learners will be better equipped to conduct rigorous and meaningful research in the field of medicine.

Here are some of the topics that could be covered in this course:

• Introduction to literature searching in medical research
• Identifying and selecting appropriate databases
• Formulating effective search queries
• Refining search results to yield relevant and reliable sources
• SILO and Synthesis methods of literature searching
• Tips for managing search results
• Using reference management software to organize sources
• Common pitfalls and mistakes to avoid in literature searching
• Practical exercises and examples to reinforce learning