Minervation information scientists have worked in Evidence-based Health Care since 1995.  We have substantial expertise in specifying, finding, appraising and synthesising evidence for diverse audiences.

Over the years, our work with many different organisations has given us experience in how best to structure information for different audiences, including the public, patients, health professionals and researchers.

We have pioneered the use of blogs and social media as serious science communication tools.

Throughout, we have always retained our focus on evidence, quality and reliability.

Literature searching

If there’s evidence, we’ll find it. We can also filter it for quality and relevance, collate it, and leave you with a definitive set of published research around your topic.

The Minervation team have been doing and teaching literature searching  for evidence-based health care since the 1990s.  As well as bringing this rigorous approach to identifying and searching research databases, we are experienced in creating bespoke search strategies to fit corporate requirements, such as scoping reviews and horizon scanning.

Our recent work in this area includes grey literature and identifying unpublished trials for the OpenTrials collaboration.

Evidence summaries

If you don’t have the capacity to write your own content, we can even produce a set of evidence-based summaries for you. We often work with clinical experts when creating such content, drawing upon our international network of associates.

Key success factors for summarising evidence are ensuring that they are centred on user needs and adapting them to fit the context in which the y are to be used.  For example, by integrating evidence summaries with horizon scanning and content pipelines, the summaries can be transformed into dynamic living reviews.

Evidence-based content

As we know, “not all evidence is created equal”.  Unfortunately, we don’t all have the time or the skills to conduct an evaluation of the reliability and validity of every evidence source.

Our broad approach to evidence appraisal is simple, and will be recognised by those familiar with EBHC:

1. Is there a clearly focused, relevant study question?
2. Are the methods reliable?
3. Are the reliable results important?
4. What do these reliable, important results mean for you?

Luckily Minervation has extensive experience of appraising all sorts of health research studies, including qualitative, economic evaluations, systematic reviews, observational studies and diagnostic studies

We can provide this service and embed it within your training and development plan.  For example, our popular Campfire format allows participants to hone their evidence skills whilst answering clinical questions pertinent to their work.

Read more about our vision for evidence-based organisations (PDF).

Engaging media

The competition for users’ attention has never been fiercer!  With everyone clamouring to be heard, how can you make your content stand out?

We can help, by marrying our design flair with our subject knowledge and command of audio, video, social and interactive media.  

Podasts, infographics and videos are all in our wheelhouse.  We work closely with clients to make the most of their assets and craft compelling messages for the channels where they can find their audience. And we love to help reliable evidence and good practice stand out from the crowd!

Content curation

We can also help you organise your content, by developing an information architecture or taxonomy to ensure people can find what they need.

This work needs a good understanding of how users’ specific context and the general principles of how people interact with digital technology.

Keeping content up to date is a key challenge, particularly for evidence-based information. Processes need to be put in place to scan and manage important changes in content as it becomes available.

You can see some examples of our custom taxonomy, content curation work in the James Lind Library and the Scottish Dental website.