Evidence into Practice: Practical Exercises

Evidence into Practice is an enhancement to The Knowledge Network and is designed to help clinicians find, share and apply evidence to practice to deliver the best quality patient care.

Aims of this session

This session and these exercises will introduce you to Evidence into Practice

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

  • Locate the Evidence into Practice Search options
  • Conduct a targeted search for evidence sources
  • Be aware of the difference between conducting and Evidence into Practice search versus searchingThe Knowledge Network
  • Be aware of ways to manage your search results
  • Access the full set of resources on the Evidence into Practice site
  • Identify useful tools to help apply the evidence to practice
  • Locate relevant training courses

This booklet contains a set of hands-on practical exercises for you to work through at a computer with internet access.

Text with a red number beside it indicates an activity for you follow.

The exercises use the example of finding out about the prevention of Clostridium difficile infection.

Exercise 1: Search the evidence base

1.Go to Evidence into Practice:

(You can also go to The Knowledge Network and click on the Evidence into Practice link on the homepage)

2.Use the Search box to find evidence summaries for Clostridium difficile

  • How many results do you find?
  • How many evidence summaries?

What are you searching?

The Evidence into Practice search includes selected collections of evidence and information from a wide range of health and social care sources. Click on the ‘Sources’ link at the very bottom of the page on Evidence into Practice to see the full list. Unlike using a regular search engine, you don’t need to spend time evaluating the authority of your results.

Search results page:

3. Click on ‘The Knowledge Network’ (the blue button) at the top of the results to broaden out your search to include the whole Knowledge Network resources set

  • Note how the number of results increase
  • Note how the available Filters change

4. Go back to the Evidence into Practice results (Click on the green Evidence into Practice button)

5. Use the filters to narrow your results to display only Evidence Summaries

5. Try out the evidence search using your own search words or phrases

NB:You can also conduct the same evidence search via The Knowledge Networkat

Exercise 2: Managing your results

What can you do with your results?

Evidence into Practice can help you combine and share information. ‘Save & Share’ tools help you store useful information, adding new material as you find it and also help you share that knowledge with colleagues.

Save & Share

What is Tagging?

Tagging enables you to add keywords to resources so you can group resources together under a tag – a label, project name or memorable title.

My Resource Space

Log in with your Athens password on Evidence into Practice – at the top of any screen, from any computer and access MY Resource Space to see your saved items

Exercises

1.Click on ‘Login/Register’ at the top of the Evidence into Practice screen to log in with yourAthens username and password.

  • If you do not have an Athens password you can register for one via the same link now and try out the rest of the exercise later once you are registered.

2.Conduct a search (for anything you like) and select ‘Mark Record’.

Add your marked record to My Resource Space. From My Resource Space, add some tags to your saved record.

NB: You don’t need to log in to access many of the resources available on Evidence into Practice and The knowledge Network but if you do, you will get access to all the available material and be able to saveuseful items you find to refer to again.

Communities

Another way to share knowledge is via communities of practice. Community websites provide a range of online tools that will facilitate communication, information sharing and collaborative working between colleagues across organisational boundaries.


Exercise 3: Find tools to help apply the evidence to practice

Evidence into Practice not only helps you to search the evidence base tofindthe information you need and share it with others, it also provides tools and resources to help apply the evidence.

  1. Find the Care Bundle for the prevention of Clostridium difficile infection:

Clostridium difficile clinical topic page:

  1. Browse the Clinical Topics by clicking on them in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen
  2. Browse some of the other pages and subpages by clicking on them in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen to see if you can find any useful material. *Please ask your trainer any questions you have about these pages

Exercise 4: Find an online learning course

Search and browse for education and learning resources: courses, online modules, guidelines and toolkits from NHS organisations, higher education providers, RoyalColleges, Government and accredited organisations.