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Search Smarter: our Information Skills eTutorials help you to prepare

 Whether you're settling into university life, juggling clinical placements, or stepping into your first professional role, one thing is clear: being able to find, judge, and use information confidently is a game‑changer.
That’s where the Health Library’s Information Skills eTutorials come in.
These short, practical online modules are designed to help you build the research and information‑handling skills you’ll rely on throughout your studies and your healthcare career—and you can complete them anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Why bother with information skills?

Searching for good information can sometimes feel overwhelming. Databases, keywords, journals, evidence hierarchies, critical appraisal… It’s a lot.
But strong information‑seeking skills don’t just make assignments easier—they make you a safer, more informed healthcare practitioner. Reliable evidence underpins everything from clinical decisions to patient education, and the sooner you feel comfortable navigating it, the more confident you’ll become.
Our eTutorials break these skills into manageable steps. Clear guidance to help you feel in control of your learning and your practice.

What you’ll learn

Each tutorial focuses on a different aspect of information and research skills, including:
  • How to plan an effective search strategy - Learn how to turn your assignment or clinical question into search terms that actually work.
  • Finding high‑quality academic and clinical evidence - Discover the best places to search and how to save time by using them effectively.
  • Evaluating information with confidence - Spot trustworthy research, avoid misinformation, and understand what makes a source reliable.
  • Referencing and citation know‑how - Get guidance you can follow.
Whether you’re writing your first university assignment or updating your knowledge on placement, these skills will make your work faster, smoother, and more accurate.

Perfect for busy schedules

Healthcare students and professionals are busy—we get it. That’s why the eTutorials are:
  • Short and flexible - Fit them between lectures, on the bus to placement, or during a quiet moment at home.
  • Self‑paced - go at your own speed.
  • Mobile‑friendly - Learn from your phone or tablet wherever you are.
  • Repeatable - Need a refresher? Revisit any tutorial anytime.
These are skills you’ll use again and again throughout your studies and career, so investing a few minutes now pays off again and again.

Your future self will thank you

Mastering information skills isn’t just about passing exams. It’s about:
  • building confidence in your academic work
  • developing the habits of an evidence‑based practitioner
  • saving time and reducing stress
  • feeling prepared for whatever the next stage of study or practice brings
Whether you’re aiming for top marks or simply want to feel more in control, our etutorials give you a strong foundation.

Ready to take the next step?

Your library team is here to support you every step of the way, and these eTutorials are a great place to start. Dive in, explore at your own pace, and discover how much easier study and clinical research can be when you have the right tools.

Start your Information Skills eTutorials today—and level up your learning, your practice, and your confidence.

[written in collaboration with MS 365 copilot chat]

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