​Information Skills and Training

We deliver one to one or group training to help you to find and understand quality information to inform your decision making. Our online guides are available to help you to get the most out of our resources. We also support journal clubs, which are a great way to keep up to date with the latest evidence in your area and keep your critical appraisal skills up to date. Contact us today (rgh-tr.libraryhealthcare@nhs.net 01709 427139) to book onto or arrange a training session.

We run regular training sessions on the following (click on the following links to book):

Finding quality information: Evidence at your fingertips
This session will introduce you to the healthcare resources available through the library and show you how to get the most out of them. We will cover how to formulate a question and what type of evidence will best answer it. Come to this session if you would like to increase your knowledge and confidence of accessing quality information at the point of need. 
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​Click here to book a place. 
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Finding quality information: using online databases
This session will explore:
• What what online databases are and why they are useful
• How to identify and access different interfaces such as OVID, EBSCO and ProQuest to access      specific healthcare databases specific to your specialty
• Advanced searching techniques and tips 
• How to save and record your searches

​Click here to book a place
Understanding the evidence: Study designs
This session will look at the most commonly sued research designs used in published healthcare information and what types of question they best answer. We will discuss the distinctions between primary and secondary research and the different types of qualitative and quantitative research.

Part of our new bite size sessions on understanding the evidence. 
Click here to book a place
Understanding the Evidence: recognising bias
What is bias and how does it impact the findings of clinical research?

This session will explore common types of bias and look at the impact that this has on clinical findings. We will look at how to identify common types of bias in research articles and how is can affect the findings of a paper using a critical appraisal checklist. 

Access online training material and read our guide to critical appraisal.

Part of our new bite size sessions on understanding the evidence. 
Click here to book a place
Understanding the evidence: Interpreting statistics 
In this session, we'll take a look a common statistical techniques used in medical research. We'll apply our learning to a research paper to see what the statistics are telling us and how this impacts the findings of the research. 

Part of our new bite size sessions on understanding the evidence. ​ 
Click here to book a place
Understanding the evidence: reading qualitative research
This session provides an introduction to descriptive research that seeks to understand people’s beliefs and views, through methods such as focus groups and questionnaires. 

Click here to book a place

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​How to reference your work
Do you need help with referencing? 

Find out more about referencing and reference generators in our online guide.

Book onto 'How to Reference Your Work' which will give an overview of the importance of referencing, followed by a description of the in text citation and the reference list.  Production of the reference list using the assistance of automatic reference generators will be demonstrated.  The coverage will be altered depending upon the style of referencing you are using including Harvard, Vancouver and APA.  Contact us to book. ​


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Introduction to poster design
Do you want to produce a poster for a conference or an academic assignment? This session will take you through the basics of content and layout and help make your poster look great. 

Read more about how to get started from Manchester University's tips on creating Academic Posters and Liverpool University's Making an Impact with your Poster.

​Click here to book a place
 
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Introduction to academic writing
This course covers the different kinds of assignments that you may be asked to undertake as part of an educational course. It will also explain how to structure both the overall assignment and individual paragraphs within it.  ​

Browse our list of online support materials on 'Writing for Publication'.
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Click here to book a place

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Reflective writing
In this session we’ll be taking a look at the skills of reflection and reflective writing and how these can improve practice.

Click here to book a place
 
Support for Research and Publication
Read our online guide to how we can support you through the research and publication process: getting started with research, the publication process, writing for publication; choosing a journal, understanding open access and sharing the knowledge. 

How to book

If you'd like to book training, please contact: 01790 424642/44; rgh-tr.libraryhealthcare@nhs.net) or call in to the Library on D Level. ​Our training is available via MS Teams and in the library with social distancing in place. All training sessions can be tailored for specific departments/ specialities.
Most of our online information resources require an NHS OpenAthens username and password. Find out more about registering and re-setting OpenAthens accounts. 

  • ​One to One Sessions via MS Teams or in person 
    If you wish to have an individual training session on any of the above or anything related to finding, accessing or interpreting the evidence, please contact us to make an appointment. This includes GP surgeries and other locations in the community. We can train in the library or via MS Teams. 
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  • ​Assisted Literature Searching
    If you are preparing for research or an assignment such as a dissertation, we can offer you a personalised training session. We can help you formulate your search question and identify the relevant sources to search. Using your NHS Athens password, we can demonstrate how to translate your question into a search strategy. With your subject knowledge, we can undertake a detailed and specific search and print out or save your results and search history.

  • Team and Departmental Training
    The workshops can also be delivered at in-house training events departmental meetings. The sessions can be tailored to your specific departmental needs and can include a combination of the themes on offer. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.​​

  • ​Journal Club Support Service
    The Library and Knowledge Service offer advice and practical assistance on how to setup and run a journal club, providing you with support and resources to help you. We can also lead journal club sessions using our knowledge of the research literature and critical appraisal. Please visit our Journal Club Support Service page for more information.