Knowledge and Library Services Awareness Week 13 - 17 June 2022

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I contacted the LKS to help with performing a literature search into the use of inhaled alcohol as a treatment for nausea and vomiting.

LKS provided a comprehensive search, along with the supporting search strategy, and identified 20 relevant papers. These papers were relevant to the topic being reviewed and informed the ongoing systematic review.

The search identified 20 relevant papers which we refined down to 2 that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for our review.

The help from the LKS enabled us to rapidly move forward with our systematic review with confidence that the search had been done in a robust fashion. We were unable to locate any missed literature from other sources.

The review has already been submitted to one conference and is being written up for publication. We will definitely use the LKS for future literature searches.

Graham McCelland, Research Paramedic, NEAS

The importance of robust research methodology is vital in all forms of healthcare, but it has grown enormously within the paramedic profession over the past decade. As the paramedic profession has moved ever increasingly into higher education for both the core profession and for paramedics specialising in other areas of healthcare, the support provided by employers has become vital. The emergence of posts such as research paramedics and Trust librarians, provides superb support for paramedics embarking on academic qualifications or undertaking quality improvement work within the workplace setting.

I have used Trust librarian services on several occasions over the past few years, especially in attempts to examine the literature. The National Ambulance Clinical Supervision Framework was founded on a thorough knowledge of the evidence relating to restorative clinical supervision. It was our starting point in developing the framework around best practice and best evidence. We have also explored a number of clinical areas of work for paramedics rotating into primary care, including improvements in asthma management and frailty assessment.

Librarian services supported by the HEI partnerships, have been incredibly responsive to our requests and I have been delighted with the improvements in care that these pieces of work will bring.

Mark Newton, Associate Director of Transformation and Integration, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust