The National Library for Health (NLH)
Specialist Libraries have been developed to identify and meet the information needs of particular communities of practice. They are web-based collections containing clinical and non-clinical information on the major health priority areas. Each NLH Specialist Library identifies and provides access to quality assessed information of relevance to the community that it serves.
An aspect of this involves the production of Annual Evidence Updates, which aim to highlight the best current evidence for selected healthcare topics. Annual Evidence Updates consist of the good quality evidence from a search of research evidence on a particular topic over a 12 month period, plus user-friendly summaries written by relevant experts, and links to guidelines, secondary research and primary research, if applicable. All information included in Annual Evidence Updates has been subject to rigorous selection criteria.
The
calendar of currently confirmed Annual Evidence Updates for 2008 and 2009 is now available.
The following Annual Evidence Updates are scheduled for September 2008:
Headache (
Neurological Conditions Specialist Library) on 1st September
A systematic search on headache and migraine to identify all high level evidence published from 2006 - 2008, namely guidelines, systematic reviews, health technology assessments and economic evaluations.
Hepatitis B/C (
Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases Specialist Library) on 8th September
A systematic search on Hepatitis B and C to identify all high level evidence published in the past year, namely guidelines, systematic reviews, health technology assessments and economic evaluations.
Special care dentistry (
Oral Health Specialist Library) on 8th September
In recognition of the new consultant speciality of Special Care Dentistry, the Oral Health Specialist Library is presenting a new Annual Evidence Update that identifies relevant, high quality information published in this area. The speciality has been defined as: 'the improvement of oral health of individuals and groups in society who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical emotional or social impairment or disability or, more often, a combination of these factors'. The update also features reviews of two specific areas of interest identified by oral health professionals: bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and antibiotic prophylaxis in bacterial endocarditis.
Alzheimer's disease and dementia (
Later Life Specialist Library) on 15th September
The update aims to provide healthcare professionals with a clear path to the most important recent evidence surrounding the five major types of dementias: Alzheimer’s; Vascular dementia; Dementia with lewy bodies; Frontotemportal dementia, and mixed dementias.
Eczema (
Skin Disorders Specialist Library) on 15th September
The results of a search for new systematic reviews published since the first Annual Evidence Update in September 2007. Also included are a range of invited expert commentaries on current themes in atopic eczema, an analysis of what is new in systematic reviews and its implications for clinical practice, and a mapping by topic of all systematic reviews on atopic eczema published since 2000.
Surgical management of faecal incontinence (
Surgery, Theatres & Anaesthesia Specialist Library) on 15th September
This update coincides with National Continence Awareness week. NICE guidance on faecal incontinence was published in June 2007 based on literature published prior to October 2006. Therefore this update will highlight relevant, good quality evidence published from October 2006 onwards focusing specifically on surgical management (including sacral nerve modulation and implants).
Antenatal and pregnancy care (
Women's Health Specialist Library) on 29th September
The update brings together the results of a comprehensive literature search for new research published since July 2007.
CAM for low back pain (
Complementary & Alternative Medicine Specialist Library) on 29th September
A list of relevant guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials, along with commentary from experts, published between June 2007 and July 2008.
Hyperthyroidism (
ENT and Audiology Specialist Library) on 29th September
Research on thyroid disorders continues to proliferate and this evidence update will present a concise summary of the latest systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials on the topic, combined with expert opinion on recent developments and a list of current therapeutic uncertainties.
