Competence four: Evaluating how the information meets the identified need
This is competence four in the RCN's Finding, using and managing information: nursing, midwifery health and social care information literacy competences (PDF 1.44MB) [see how to access PDF files].
This page guides you to learning resources to enable you to develop your skills related to this competence.
Key skills needed for evaluation
Internet for nursing: Judge
See how critical thinking can improve the quality of your online research with this online tutorial from the Virtual Training Suite.
RCN Learning Zone: How trustworthy is your information?
This learning resource has been developed for nurses, midwives, students, and support workers in health and social care who may be routinely researching topics in support of their day-to-day work or studies. It guides you through some of the issues and activities involved in finding, using and managing information so that you can develop your skills in accessing the right information at the right time, applying and communicating it appropriately.
University of Virginia Health System: Center for Information Mastery
This website briefly explains the theory of information mastery which can help you to assess the usefulness of information for your practice based on relevance, validity and work.
Critical appraisal
Critical appraisal is a systematic way of assessing research papers, which is an essential part of evidence-based clinical practice.
Bandolier: critical appraisal
This site provides a brief introduction to what critical appraisal is about, with a link to a more detailed document: 'What is critical appraisal'.
CASP: critical Appraisal Skills Programme: checklists
A series of toolkits which you can use to critically appraise a range of research types including systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
PubMed: How to read a paper (British Medical Journal)
A useful series of articles by Trisha Greenhalgh that introduces non-experts to understanding and assessing the value of medical articles. Papers explored include systematic reviews, economic analyses, drug trials, statistical tests, diagnostic tests and qualitative research. This list from PubMed includes links to the full text articles.
University of Glasgow section of general practice and primary care: Evidence-based practice
A variety of materials to help you develop the skills of critical appraisal including checklists to help you ask the right questions of papers.
RCN Library catalogue: critical thinking / Critical appraisal
Details of books held in the RCN libraries relating to this subject. RCN members may borrow in person or by post. Please contact RCN Library and Information Services if you would like to borrow any of these books. Some of these books may be available online - select the URL link where available. You may be asked to login to the RCN website to access some items which are available to RCN members.
RCN Library catalogue: evidence-based nursing
Details of books held in the RCN libraries relating to this subject. RCN members may borrow in person or by post. Please contact RCN Library and Information Services if you would like to borrow any of these books. Some of these books may be available online - select the URL link where available. You may be asked to login to the RCN website to access some items which are available to RCN members.