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Request an evidence search

Taking the heavy lifting out of evidence search

Save time and find the best evidence with our expert evidence searching service.­

If you need to find information and evidence for any professional purpose, we can undertake a literature search on your behalf. This saves you precious time, whilst making sure a wide range of appropriate resources are searched. Searches can be on clinical or non-clinical topics, and our experienced librarians will communicate with you to ensure the search meets your needs.

Select your library service from the menu on the right and complete the search request form. If you would like to discuss your needs before submitting a search request, contact us. 

You can also find out more on how to search for information yourself, or arrange training to improve your search skills.

When would a literature search be useful?

We carry out searches for a wide range of purposes. Any time you - or a project you are working on - needs an overview of the current evidence on a topic, you can save time and get the best results by requesting a search from your library.

We are happy to carry out searches on clinical and non-clinical topics. Evidence from our searches is frequently used to inform:

  • Clinical guidelines
  • Direct patient care
  • Service development
  • Business cases
  • Quality improvement projects
  • Writing for publication
  • Research projects

If you would like to discuss whether a literature search could be beneficial for your work, please contact us. 

Recent literature searches

You can request a search for any topic or purpose related to your professional practice. Here is a sample of the range of different topics we have carried out searches on recently:

  • Impact of dealing with ongoing legal issues while having psychological therapy
  • Speech outcomes following secondary palate surgery in children with cleft palate
  • Current Developments in Chaplaincy
  • Lean programmes of work used in sustainability
  • Attrition of nursing students from their healthcare courses
  • Methods people have used to improve discharges and patient flow through the hospital
  • Mpox guidelines for Ophthalmology 
  • Designing HIV services in new hospitals

Request a search from:

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

Testimonials

"Thank you ever so much for the information provided.  You have yet again exceeded my expectations"

"Thank you also for the incredible efforts of yourself and colleagues in relation to this request"

"Amazing - that is really helpful, thank you so much!"

"Thank you so much for this. It has saved a huge amount of my time searching"

"Wow! thanks so much for your prompt and very thorough response."

Describes impact of evidence search service for a project on improving patient interactions whilst using ipads
Library and Knowledge Specialist sources evidence on best practice in use of IPads Seeking evidence on best practice in the use of IPads during clinical interactions, the lead nurse for the Clinical Digital Team approached the library and knowledge service for assistance. In addition to saving the time of clinical staff, the evidence supplied was used to create an infographic to share the findings within the team. "This information helped my colleague to create an infographic to convey the evidence-based information to nurses on the ward - this contributed to improving how nurses deliver care to their patients." David Pickles, Lead Nurse - Clinical Digital Team, working with Beth Tapster, Corporate Services Librarian, Leeds
Goal setting for people with impaired self- awareness after brain injury Occupational Therapists sought the help of the library and knowledge team to provide an evidence base around goal setting for patients who have impaired self-awareness following brain injury. The resulting evidence enhanced knowledge within the team and was used to develop a workshop delivered to Neuro Occupational Therapists across the country to further explore the topic "We are now looking at how to implement some of the recommended changes within our MDT practices with patients to optimise their participation in the process and ensure we're delivering rehabilitation which they value, and which motivates them." Harriet Garnett, Occupational Therapist working with Beth Tapster, Corporate Services Librarian, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust