Unpacking your literature search toolbox: on search styles and tactics

Source: Health Information and Libraries Journal
For abstract link here (full text available with Athens login)
Date of publication: Nov 2008
In a nutshell: Andrew Booth examines and puts names to some of the techniques used in searching the literature including ‘Building Blocks’, ‘Berry Picking’ 'Citation Pearl Growing', and ‘Successive Fractions’.  He considers how the purpose of the search affects the tactic that the librarian might use (is the evidence needed for a decision support or knowledge support?). 
Length of publication: 5 pages

'What is...?' series

Source: Bandolier
For fulltext link here
In a nutshell: Bandolier produce the What is …? series intended to demystify some of the terminology, techniques and practices used to assess clinical and economic evidence within healthcare. Topics covered include health economics, statistics, evidence-based medicine and the NHS and health technology assessment.  The series aims to provide healthcare professionals (including health librarians!) at all levels with essential information to increase their understanding of these complex areas. Titles that you might find particularly useful are 'What is critical appraisal', 'What are confidence intervals and p-values', 'What is evidence based medicine', What is a systematic review' and 'What is World Class Commissioning'.

Reporting bias in medical research

Source: Trials 2010, 11 (37)
For fulltext link here
Date of publication: April 2010
In a nutshell: Trials recently published the following article about the reporting bias in medical research (why certain studies do not get published) and highlights several cases in which this non-reporting has been harmful to patient care. It is available freely via Biomed Central.
Length of publication: 15 pages