Guidance and training for health and social care staff and students in Scotland to use the Knowledge Network digital library resources: journals, articles, eBooks and evidence summaries. Includes how to register; instructional demo videos on Library Search, BMJ Best Practice and DynaMed; practice examples; and knowledge check. Staff in Higher and Further education can request group sessions for their students.
Step 1: Set up an NHSScotland OpenAthens account (Essential)
You need an NHSScotland OpenAthens account to access the resources on the Knowledge Network. This is free for health and care staff and students who undergo placements or training with the NHS and social care in Scotland.
Please refer to the videos and guides below.
Register on the Knowledge Network
Difference between NHSScotland OpenAthens and other logins:
Your NHSScotland OpenAthens account will gives you access to the resources that are subscribed to by NHSScotland. Other logins, such as the one you use at your place of study or previously used in another part of the UK, will not give you access to the same materials. If you are still studying at university or college, you may have access to different materials through their subscriptions.
For staff and students who currently have an NHS Scotland work email address and password.
For staff and students who do not have an NHS Scotland email address and password.
Step 2: Watch the introduction to library search and evidence summaries videos (Essential)
These four short videos will help you search for material more effectively.
Video 1: Library search: how to search when you know what you're looking for
This video outlines finding resources when you know what you are looking for e.g. you have the reference. It covers:
- Finding books, eBooks, articles and journals
- Filtering
- Accessing resources
- Ordering resources not in the collection
Video 2: Library search: how to search for information on a topic
This video outlines finding resources when you want to search using keywords and search terms. It covers:
- Developing a search query using keywords
- Filtering
- Accessing resources
Step 3: Practice searches
These step by step practice searches will help you use the Knowledge Network Library Search and evidence summaries and show how it can be useful and relevant to your studies, practice and research. Complete before a training session to give you a head start or use to refresh your skills any time.
Step 4: Knowledge check
Once you have watched the videos, complete the quiz to check if you need to review anything.
You can also send us questions to answer during a live training session.
Follow up materials and training
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