LibGuides: Health Sciences: Evidence-based medicine databases and apps

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Databases for evidence-based medicine

For a full list of EBM search tools, visit the A-Z list of databases for evidence based medicine:

A-Z Databases for Evidence-based Medicine

Best Practice (BMJ) (King's) This link opens in a new window King's username and password for access off campus
Best Practice is a completely new concept for information delivered at the point of care.
In a single source there is combination of the latest research evidence, guidelines and expert opinion – presented in a step-by-step approach, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Its patient-focused approach represents a major advancement in information delivery at the point of care.

There is a mobile app available
British National Formulary (BNF) (free access) This link opens in a new window Registration required - see More for details
Registered users of the BNF website (see Terms of website use for conditions) are allowed free access to the core content of the latest edition of the BNF and BNF for Children on the MedicinesComplete website if they reside in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any of the countries in the HINARI list of countries managed by the World Health Organisation WHO (see http://www.who.int/hinari/en/for details).
If you are a UK-based individual undertaking work (or training) for or on behalf of the NHS or you are a non-commercial user, you can register on MedicinesComplete
Cochrane Library This link opens in a new window Free access - see More for details
The library incorporates six key resources in the field of evidence based practice: CDSR, DARE, CENTRAL - the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR), the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) and the Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA). A seventh database provides information about groups in The Cochrane Collaboration.

Access to the Cochrane Library is free to NHS staff, patients and the public in the United Kingdom. For information on access from other countries see this page
TRIP This link opens in a new window Free access
TRIP is a clinical search engine providing a single search interface to a large number of web resources, which contain high quality evidence for answering clinical questions, including journals, synopses, online textbooks and systematic reviews. As well as research evidence we also allow clinicians to search across other content types including images, videos, patient information leaflets, educational courses and news.
UpToDate This link opens in a new window
King's username and password required for access off campus. Initial registration required - see More for details
UpToDate is an evidence-based, physician-authored clinical decision support resource used by clinicians to make point-of-care decisions.

Users searching UpToDate will find:
Synthesized topic reviews that cover major medical specialties, symptoms, diagnoses, tests, and treatments, written, in short, concise paragraphs.
Drug Monographs
Drug Interactions
Society Guidelines
Access graded treatment recommendations, utilizing the GRADE system.
Access Clinical Calculators and a Drug Interactions Database are available.
Print patient education information.
Updated approximately every 4 months.

Initial registration on campus required. Once registered, your account must be revalidated every 90 days to remain active.
If you are a student studying remotely and unable to do the initial registration on campus please log in here then go to Register.

NHS access off campus is for NHS staff with a King's affiliate account only, due to licence restrictions

New to using online databases?

Complete interactive tutorials on literature searching and earn badges in the Finding and Evaluating Information section of KLaSS:

KLaSS Module (KEATS)
Online tutorials and forums available 24/7; to help you find academic materials for your topics and choose your referencing style

Helpful links

Centre for evidence-based medicine (CEBM)
From the University of Oxford. Checklists, workshops and other resources.
Students 4 Best Evidence
A network for students interested in evidence-based healthcare.
iMedicalApps
Reviews, research, and commentary of mobile medical technology and healthcare apps

Books for evidence-based medicine

New books are published regularly on the topic of reading a paper, study skills, critical appraisal etc - click the books below or use Library Search to explore books in our collection:

Library Search @ King's
Find books and full text journal articles on your subject online!

Evidence-Based Medicine by David L. Sackett; R. Brian Haynes; W. Scott Richardson; William Rosenberg; Sharon E. Straus
Publication Date: 2000
How to integrate the best available evidence with clinical expertise. Clear explanation of the central questions of EBM how to ask answerable clinical questions, how to translate them into effective searches for the best evidence, how to critically appraise that evidence for its validity and importance, and how to integrate it with patients values and preferences.
Evidence-Based Medicine by Paul Glasziou; Donald Del Mar; Janet Salisbury
Publication Date: 2003
A collection of handouts for Evidence Based Medicine workshops run at the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, University of Queensland which are presented in this book as a tool for learning EBM skills.
Fundamentals of Evidence Based Medicine by Kameshwar Prasad
Publication Date: 2013
An introduction to evidence-based medicine (EBM). Available online.

New to using Library Search?

You can find online tutorials on using Library Search to find books and journals around your subject. Find them in the Getting Started With Your Studies section of KLaSS:

KLaSS Module (KEATS)
Online tutorials and forums available 24/7; to help you find academic materials for your topics and choose your referencing style

Apps for evidence-based medicine

Tools designed for use at patient point-of-care. Download to your mobile device to get access to the latest recommendations and research to support your evidence-based practice.

Access the BMJ Best Practice app
- access current information on condition topics; prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
- as well as guidelines, medical calculators, access to the BNF, patient leaflets, procedural videos, and more.
Access the BNF & BNFC app
- The app matches the print and online BNF & BNFC.
- Drug information, drug interactions, wound management, medical devices, borderline substances, and more.
Access the UpToDate app
- evidence summaries from the latest research and best practice, written by a faculty of expert physicians.
- new evidence and recommendations added every business day.

Exam resources for junior doctors

Please note: Some of these resources require a subscription for full access, whilst others are free or have a selection of free sample questions.

Medical Masterclass (login required) Practice taking unlimited mock MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 written exams. Beat the clock; take our specially selected 30-question, 60-minute timed challenge exams. See how your score compares to other users and how you perform in each of the medical specialties that comprise the MRCP(UK) exams.
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GSTT staff should contact nhsenquiry@kcl.ac.uk for a login. KCH staff should contact michael.harney@nhs.net
MRCPass • Notes on topics covered in MRCP Pt 1 • 130 MCQ questions • Bookmark questions • Choose questions by topic • Track statistics • Look back over wrong answers
Revise MRCP • Covers MRCP Parts 1 and 2 • Over 5,000 MCQs arranged by topic • Free to sign up • Past papers going back to September 2010
Medexam.net • Over 1,800 MCQs with detailed answers • Updated with new information every day • Covers MRCP, MRCGP and PLAB exams
Almost a Doctor • Works like Wikipedia - put together by users but subject to quality control • Contains notes, mindmaps, flashcards and an OSCE checklist • Blogs from other junior doctors • Lots of notes on different topics
PassMed • Notes on study skills, revision, history taking and clinical skills • Free – being created by a group of currently working junior doctors • Aims to cover material that is ‘hard-to-find’ in textbooks • You can download the entire web site as an app
Radiology Master-Class • Courses accredited by the Royal College of Radiologists • X-ray interpretation tutorials • A gallery of sample X-ray cases
BMJ OnExamination BMJ OnExamination helps to support trainees with their exam preparation. Provides revision resources, core questions, mock tests and question of the day. Subscription required.
Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy: Exam questions Test yourself on human anatomy. Access Acland's using your King's username and password if off campus. Create a free personal account to log in to access the exam questions.

An Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine

35 minute video providing an introduction to evidence-based medicine.

This video can be accessed by King's College London staff and students. You will need to log in using your King's username and password.