How do I search the Hub?
The Knowledge and Library Hub searches simultaneously across a wide range of resources selected to cover the needs of the NHS. The focus is on high quality health evidence. Many users will find that the Hub includes items from the collections of their local NHS Knowledge and Library Service.
The hub is designed for simple keyword searching - enter two or three terms / keywords that describe what you want to read about. You can start broad and then add more terms if the results are too broad.
By default the Hub searches for records that include all the terms you enter. The Hub is designed to assist you with your search so it will include US / UK spellings and make corrections for most typos.
I have too many results? What should I do?
Filters are available to narrow your search. Click the "All filters" button below the search box and the options will appear on the right hand side of your screen. Limiting by date is a good way to focus on more recent materials. You can use the Content Provider to limit to a database, BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Systematic Reviews etc.
While the Full text filter is available please note that this will show you fewer direct links to journal articles than a search without it. We use a tool called LibKey to add links to open access articles in hybrid journals - unfortunately it is not currently possible to include this knowledge in the Full text limiter.
I just want to see books and ebooks from my library...
By default most users will see results that include books and ebooks from their library alongside a wide range of other material such as journal articles, evidence summaries and systematic reviews.
To just see books and ebooks for your organisation open "All filters" and select "Library Catalogue only"
Should I use advanced search mode?
The advanced search mode is particularly useful if you want to search on specific fields. You might know the title and an author of an article for instance and you can rapidly search for these from this search screen. Advanced search also makes more of the settings visible. The Search options tab includes links to learn more about the ways to search on the Hub.
How can I combine searches?
You can combine searches using multiple search boxes as presented on the Advanced Search mode screen.
Clicking on "Recent Activity" will bring up a list of the searches from your current session. Tick the radio boxes of the searches you want to combine and the search combine icon will appear at the top of your results list.
Combine with OR to broaden your search eg hospital or clinic or ward
Combine with AND to narrow your search eg headache and nsaid
I want to find one specific article but it isn't coming up?
The Hub has very comprehensive indexes for journal articles but has less coverage of book chapters / books. If you have a known item you are trying to find then open Advanced search and scroll down to a simple tool for searching against the Title, Author and Journal name. If in doubt then use the Ask-a-librarian (the speech bubble bottom right of the Hub screen) to contact your Knowledge and Library Service Team.
What are PICOT / Natural Language Search Modes?
The Hub offers two assisted search modes.
PICOT is a framework for structuring your search that is most effective for questions around effectiveness. You are promopted to include elements about the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Time / type. Only the first two are required elements. There is additional help available from the PICOT tool itself.
Natural Language Search is an option exclusive to the revised version of the Hub launched in 2025. Toggle it on and enter your search as a phrase thinking about how you might express it out loud if you were asking a person. Your query will be translated into a more complex keyword search including related terms. You can see the search applied by clicking Show refined Query below the search box on the results page.
Natural Language Search frequently offers more relevant results than simple keyword searching.