Health scientific information searching: hands-on training and methods for conducting a systematic search - Fall 2025

Course name:

Health Scientific Information Searching: Hands-on training and methods for conducting a systematic search, Fall (2025)

Description:

Welcome to the course Health Scientific Information Searching: Hands-on training and methods for conducting a systematic search.

This course is aimed at doctoral students and researchers within health science. You will be introduced to methods, techniques, and tools relevant for searching, evaluating, and organizing literature. During the course, you will learn how to design a search strategy and to conduct and document a systematic search.

The course will cover these essential areas:

• Health scientific information search: How to use tools like PICO to formulate structured search queries for use in bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Embase. How to choose the right databases for your research question. Training in PubMed and Embase using structured queries with the MeSH and EMTREE tools. Focus will be on your own research question.  
• Documentation and organization of search results: How to document the search and make it transparent to others by using the PRISMA flow diagram. You will be introduced to systems that can facilitate the process of organizing, screening, and handling references from multiple databases and sources.
• Making reviews: How we make sure that the search is exhaustive and as relevant as possible and meets the requirements of different types of reviews.
• Additional search methods: How to improve or supplement your search by using other search methods. You will be introduced to known methods such as citation searching but also to more recent methods such as text mining tools.

The course is a “toolbox for research”-course with a mix of presentations and hands-on training. You can either work individually focusing on your own PhD-project, or in small groups with a shared focus.

Preparation before the course: Some reading previous to the course should be expected.

Exercises: There will be both class exercises and a home assignment. The home assignment is introduced during the course. You are required to finish the home assignment at home and return it by a specific date.

Accommodation: There will be coffee and tea during the day. However, you will have to bring your own lunch. Alternatively, you can buy food at the canteen at Kroghstræde 3.

Course language: English

Important: Remember to bring your computer

Organizer: Pernille Skou Gaarsted, librarian, M.Li.Sc. e-mail: psg@rn.dk and Louise Thomsen, librarian, M.Li.Sc e-mail: lt@aub.aau.dk

Lecturers:  Pernille Skou Gaarsted, librarian, M.Li.Sc. e-mail: psg@rn.dk and  Louise Thomsen, M.Li.Sc. e-mail: lt@aub.aau.dk

ECTS: 1

Number of participants: 20

Time:  25 November 2025 9.00 am - 3.00 pm

Place: Aalborg University Library, Kroghstræde 3, Room Einstein

Deadline: 4 November 2025

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

For external PhD students: This course is a general course and is prioritised for PhD Students enrolled at Aalborg University. If there are available seats, PhD students from other universities will be accepted. You will be notified shortly after the deadline if you have been accepted.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.