Searching Techniques for Reliable Information in Health Professions Education

Searching Techniques for Reliable Information in Health Professions Education Student’s Name Institution Course Number and Name Instructor’s Name Date Searching Techniques for Reliable Information in Health Professions Education Abstract The use of reliable information by healthcare students is significant in enhancing research and developing effective solutions to healthcare challenges. The rise of the internet means that healthcare students can access information from all over the world. The increased accessibility to information and the fact that almost anyone can publish information on the internet calls for students to develop the ability to recognize reliable information. This chapter explores the techniques and strategies that healthcare students can employ to find reliable information. Recognizing Reliable Information A key step in for searching reliable information is finding credible sources. Finding credible sources ensures that students have accurate and trustworthy information to use in their research activities and bolster their knowledge. But how does one recognize that a particular source is credible? Prioritizing peer-reviewed journals, reputable databases, and authoritative websites ensures that healthcare students access information that has been evaluated and verified by experts in the healthcare field. The information from these sources is termed scholarly and is considered accurate and trustworthy. According to Stebbins (2015), scholarly sources are authored by a credentialed researcher or a professor. A scholarly article is often published in a peer-reviewed journal, which employs blind peer review to rule out research that has been poorly done. The peer-review process (Figure 1) ensures that only credible researches are accepted for publishing. Figure 1: A Typical Peer-review Process. Source: VoYS (2021) The research papers published in peer-reviewed journals are considered the most credible because of the rigorous peer review process that rejects poorly conducted and written research. On the reliability of sources pyramid, research papers are at the top, followed by textbooks and reports, generalist books, newspapers and magazines, and general websites and social media (Figure 2). Figure 2: Reliability of Sources Pyramid. Source: The University of Queensland Library (n.d.) The reliability of sources pyramid provides healthcare students with a framework for recognizing reliable sources. By placing each of the sources they encounter on the pyramid, students can seek to use the most reliable sources for their studies and research activities. Healthcare students can also recognize reliable information by assessing the authors. In most publications, the credentials of the author are provided and it is important for the student to examine notes about the author and judge whether they have the necessary qualifications to write credible information. Students can also search for the names of the authors on databases and search engines to find out whether they have published other works. A careful examination of sources and their respective authors is integral for determining the sources of information to use. Types of Information Sources in Health Sciences Primary Sources Primary sources of information in health sciences provide original results from clinical trials, patient interactions, and experiments. They are records of evidence as first discovered and described by researchers in healthcare. Primary sources often include the evaluation of data collected in the laboratory or in the field, experiments, and hypotheses (University of Minnesota, 2022). The main types of primary sources of information include journals, theses, conferences, and patents (University of Minnesota, 2022). Journals are the main publication type in which researchers in science report and publish their findings. In this sense, original research such as experimental studies, clinical trials, and cross-sectional studies are primary information sources that are published in reputable journals and can be utilized in research by healthcare students. Theses are research carried out for the award of academic degree and are often published later as journal articles (University of Minnesota, 2022). Conference papers presented in professional conferences that report on original findings are also valuable primary sources for healthcare students. Patents on new processes and products form primary sources of information and they rarely undergo republication in journal articles (University of Minnesota, 2022). An understanding of these primary sources by healthcare students is imperative to ensuring that direct evidence is used in research activities. Secondary Sources Secondary sources are publications that examine and discuss original research studies that have been carried out by other researchers. As noted by the University of Minnesota (2022), secondary sources summarize, list, interpret, analyze, and repackage information and data from primary sources. In this case, the aim is to develop new conclusions or update knowledge on the subject (University of Minnesota, 2022). Secondary sources synthesize data from several primary sources to provide the audience with a comprehensive review and wider perspective. Not only do they document common findings among primary sources, but they also highlight trends and gaps left by the original research. Secondary sources are characterized by a reference list that directs the audience to the primary source(s) examined. The main categories of secondary sources include review journals, textbooks, article reviews, data compilations, and article indexes (University of Minnesota, 2022). Other categories of secondary sources include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, newsletters, practice standards and guidelines, patient education information, clinical care notes, and government information. While primary research contains the most credible information, secondary sources are also valuable for healthcare students. The analyses, reviews, summaries, and interpretation of primary sources that form the basis of secondary research mean that healthcare students do not have to undertake the complex and time-consuming task of examining individual primary studies to arrive at a conclusion. In secondary research such as reviews and textbooks, health information and data are presented in a way that can easily be understood by students and professionals in healthcare. This means secondary sources save time for students and healthcare professionals. Tertiary Sources Tertiary sources are made up of information distilled from primary and secondary sources (The University of Queensland Library, n.d.). They provide an introduction or summary of a particular topic and include encyclopedias, fact books, Wikipedia, and Almanacs (University of Minnesota, 2022). Unlike secondary sources that analyze and interpret information, tertiary sources of information do not provide any new information. In addition, tertiary information sources tend to be easily accessible; an example being Wikipedia. Tertiary sources are not often credited to specific authors. While tertiary sources are at the lower levels of the sources reliability pyramid, the...