Useful Links
Some useful websites about evidence-based practice and research.
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP)
http://www.phru.nhs.uk/Pages/PHD/CASP.htm
This website contains a range of tools that can be used in practice to appraise research. Appraisal tools covering the following types of research can be downloaded for free:
- Systematic Reviews
- Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)
- Qualitative Research
- Economic Evaluation Studies
- Cohort Studies
- Case Control Studies
- Diagnostic Test Studies
Centre for Evidence-based Medicine
http://www.cebm.net
This organisation provides a range of online resources to support practitioners wishing to use evidence to inform their clinical work. The site includes sections on:
- An Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
- Statistics Toolkit
- Qualitative Research
- Critical Appraisal
- Levels of Evidence
The Cochrane Library - An Introduction
http://www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochrane1
Information about the Cochrane Collaboration, which develops and disseminates systematic reviews on healthcare topics.
Tips on Advanced and MESH searching
http://www.brainshark.com/wiley/cochrane2
Advice on how to search in the electronic Cochrane Library
How to Read a Medical Paper
http://www.childrensmercy.org/stats/journal.asp
This introduction to reading medical research focuses on quantitative studies.
The Integrated Research Application System (IRAS)
https://www.myresearchproject.org.uk/
Contains forms to be completed to obtain ethical approval for research conducted within the NHS.
Health Research & Development North West
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/organisations/hrdn/index.htm
Provides research design advice to people developing proposals for external peer reviewed funding.
Research & Development Funding
http://rdfunding.org.uk/default.asp
A database of health-related research funding, which you can search if you are trying to secure a grant (big or small) for a study.
Research & Development Learning
http://www.rdlearning.org.uk/
A database of health related training, conferences and workshops.
The Research Process
http://www.rdinfo.org.uk/flowchart/Flowchart.html
A useful flowchart that documents the stages involved in conducting a piece of research.