Centre for Reviews and Dissemination: Resource of the week #39

What is it?

The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, or CRD, is a research institute based at the University of York. They specialise in evidence synthesis of multiple research studies and complete systematic reviews and economic evaluations to support healthcare decision-making and development of policy.

Key Features

One of the key resources produced by the CRD is the CRD database. This allows you search for CRD reviews, economic evaluations and health technology assessments.

The database allows you to combine search terms using AND, OR or NOT, and use publication date to focus search results. The results list includes items that match your search criteria. The entry for each search record will include the bibliographic information and where possible a link to the full-text. You can select search entries and export them. Some of the entries include a commentary from CRD.

Don’t forget to check other resources available to you for the full-text of the entry, if the full-text link is not available.

Note that some types of records are no longer being added to the database.

The CRD also offers guidance and training to support researchers who are conducting their own systematic reviews. You can find a link to a free online version of their book Systematic Reviews. They also deliver training courses to support researchers.

How can it help you?

This database offers you a search facility if you’re looking for particular types of high-level reviews.

How to access it?

The CRD database is freely available online, although you may not be able to access all the full-text links.

More help?

You can find guidance on how to use the database via the website.