Build Your Skills: Upcoming training courses 2026

Our Library and Knowledge Services team offer a comprehensive set of training courses, designed to support MTW and KMMH staff and students with your research, professional development and clinical practice

Don't miss this opportunity to develop skills that will benefit both your career and patient care.

All  our courses are delivered conveniently via Teams, and with multiple dates available for each course, to help you find a session that fits your schedule. Sessions range from 45 to 90 minutes, making it easier to fit into your busy day.

For Those Starting Their Learning Journey:

• Preparing for Study – Perfect if you're considering further education or returning to academic work after a break
• Introduction to the NHS Knowledge & Library Hub – Get familiar with the essential resources available to you

Build Your Research Skills:

• Evidence Search Training – Learn how to find the most relevant and reliable evidence efficiently
• Searching for Evidence: Beyond the Databases – NEW for 2026! Discover alternative sources beyond the medical databases and advanced search techniques
• Critical Appraisal: Quantitative Studies – Develop the skills to evaluate research quality and applicability

Specialist Topics:

• Health Literacy Awareness Training – Understand how to communicate health information effectively to diverse audiences
• Introduction to AI in Healthcare – Stay ahead of the curve with insights into artificial intelligence applications in healthcare settings

How to Book

MTW staff: Book via MTW Learning at https://mtwlearning.org/login/

KMMH staff: Book via iLearn at https://ilearn.kmpt.org

Need something more tailored? We also offer 1:1 and group sessions on topics specific to your needs. Simply email mtw-tr.clinical.librarians@nhs.net to arrange a convenient date.

Setting up Database Alerts

 

Stop Chasing Evidence - Make It Come to You:
Setting up Database Alerts

Keeping up to date in modern healthcare is difficult especially when you look at the numbers:

📊 75+ new trials published DAILY in medicine

📚 11 systematic reviews published DAILY

🔬 2.5 million new articles published YEARLY in biomedical journals 

⏰ Average clinician has 15 minutes per week for professional reading

You can't possibly keep up by manually checking databases, journals, and guidelines websites every day. Setting up an Ovid Medline AutoAlert keeps you updated at a frequency to suit you and catches new research the moment it's published, even if it uses different terminology than you'd normally search.

Setting up your first Ovid Medline AutoAlert

Step 1: Build Your Search

Log into OVID Medline via the NHS Knowledge & Library Hub (the databases can be found under Further Resources on the left hand sidebar)

Start with a focused clinical question. Let's say you're interested in managing Type 2 diabetes with lifestyle interventions.

Basic search in OVID:

1. (type 2 diabetes OR diabetes mellitus type 2 OR T2DM).ti,ab.

2. (diet OR exercise OR lifestyle OR weight loss).ti,ab.

3. (management OR treatment OR intervention).ti,ab.

4. 1 AND 2 AND 3

Why this works:

• .ti,ab. searches title and abstract only (more focused)
• OR catches different terms for the same thing
• AND combines your concepts (using line numbers)
• Result: Focused, relevant articles

Pro tip: Use MeSH headings for even better results:

1. exp Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/

2. (lifestyle OR diet OR exercise).ti,ab.

3. (management OR treatment).ti,ab.

4. 1 AND 2 AND 3

5. limit 4 to (english language and yr="2024-Current")

exp = "explode" (includes narrower MeSH terms automatically)

Step 2: Test Your Search

• Run your search in Ovid Medline
• Check the results - aim for 5-15 new articles per week
• Too many? Add more specific terms with AND
• Too few? Remove some terms or use OR for more synonyms

Step 3: Create the Alert

• Once your search gives good results, click "Create Auto-Alert" (toolbar icon)

• Sign in to your OVID account (or create one - free with NHS Athens)
• Name your search: e.g. "T2DM Lifestyle Management"
• Choose frequency under scheduling options: Weekly (recommended)

•       Choose your delivery options remembering to add your email address. Add an Email Subject line that you will recognise. Choose what you want your email to contain such as the bibliographic record, abstract and a link to the article (include external/resolver link)

• Click "Save"

Step 4: Manage Your Alerts

Access your alerts anytime:

• Log into OVID Medline via the NHS Knowledge & Library Hub
• Click "View Saved" (top right), then select AutoAlert (SDI) searches

•      Edit, delete, or temporarily pause alerts
•      View search strategy to remember what you set up

Common OVID Medline Alert Mistakes to Avoid:

❌ Too broad: "diabetes" (you'll get 1000+ articles weekly)
✅ Just right: "diabetes.ti,ab. AND lifestyle.ti,ab."

❌ Daily frequency: Email overload
✅ Weekly frequency: Manageable and sustainable

❌ Forgetting field tags: Searches everything including references
✅ Using .ti,ab.: Focuses on title and abstract only

❌ Never testing first: You don't know what you'll get
✅ Test, refine, then save: Ensures useful results

 

If you would like any help setting up your AutoAlert’s on OVID Medline  or creating a suitable search strategy, please email the Clinical Librarians at mtw-tr.clinical.libarians@nhs.net. We can also advise on setting up alerts in other databases as well.

Further resources:

Creating an AutoAlert (Ovid Help Guide)

AutoAlert Tutorial (Ovid Video)