Library News

What are Search Filters?

Search filters (also known as search hedges or search blocks) are pre-formulated search queries that are tailored to capture a concept as comprehensively as possible. They can be convenient and useful if you need help with devising a search strategy or if you search a concept often and would rather not input the same query every time.

For example, if you wish to create a search that explores the Canadian contexts of a given topic, then you may want to include a search query that completely captures the concept of ‘Canada’. The University of Alberta has some pre-fabricated search filters that could be useful. The one called ‘Canada and Provinces’, for example, contains different versions of the search filter for commonly used databases, such as Embase and CINAHL. The filters include subject headings and all grammatical variations of words used to describe Canada, the provinces, and the territories.  In the search filter below, Canad* covers Canada, Canadian, and Canadians).

From filters to retrieve studies related to Canada in CINAHL - University of Alberta

How do they work?

Search filters are very easy to use. First, find a search filter. You can either use a search engine and look up your concept with ‘search filter’ added to the search query, or you can try to find a search filter from an organization or group dedicated to developing and maintaining search filters. Two such groups are:

• McMaster University’s Health Knowledge Refinery Hedge Project
• The InterTASC Information Specialists' Sub-Group Search Filter Resource

Once you find a search filter for your concept, ensure that it is designed for the database(s) you want to search. Then, simply copy and paste the search filter into the search box of the database. From there, you can combine that search filter with your other search concepts to develop your final search for your given research question.

How are they built?

Technically speaking, anyone can create a search filter. If you have a concept that you search often and find yourself entering the same query over and over, you could save that query as a text document for later use. That would count as a personal search filter.

Of course, not all search filters are created equal. Methods for devising them have changed and become more sophisticated with time. Initially, search filters were developed by librarians who had expertise in a given subject area. Some later search filters were validated with a gold standard or reference set of articles (i.e. if a search filter was able to pull all the articles within a reference set, then the search filter was likely specific enough for the concept). More recently, statistical and automated methods were developed to validate search filters. Although many methods of validation are now available, not all search filters are validated.

Frazier et al. (2015) explain the reference set validation method in detail. Their goal was to develop a validated search filter for ‘biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)’. The method used in that paper started with developing a search strategy for general prognostic studies on OSCC. They reasoned that all studies on biomarkers for OSCC should be contained within that broader set. Then, at least two researchers independently screened the set of articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to produce the final set of articles on biomarkers for OSCC. (This is a high-level overview of their methods; please read the article for greater detail.)

How reliable are they?

Some search filters can be considered high quality if they have been validated. However, most search filters available are unvalidated, including those available from University of Alberta. This doesn’t mean they aren’t useful, but there is no guarantee that they will capture every article on a given topic. They can still be helpful when you only need to find a couple of key articles for a policy, a research assignment, or for patient care.

If you are working on a knowledge synthesis project (e.g. a scoping or systematic review) where comprehensiveness matters, it is best to use a validated search filter. Most validated search filters are published as journal articles and can be found by searching on databases or on websites that compile them (see ‘How do they Work?’, above). Kavanagh et al. (2021) present an example of a validated search filter. The tested search filters and their validity can be found in Table 1 of their article. They also outline exactly how the search filters were tested and validated.

The creation and validation of search filters is a whole field of study, but for most researchers and clinicians the most important thing to understand is where to find them and how to use them. For those working on knowledge synthesis projects, guideline development, or other cases where comprehensiveness is key, high quality validated search filters will be indispensable and convenient. For most other everyday uses, it is not necessary to use the most validated search filter, but rather the search filters that give you relevant results.

If you have questions about finding and using search filters or would like support in searching library resources, email AskLibrary@nshealth.ca or book a one-on-one consultation with a librarian.

Additional Support

Search Filters in Library Services' Searching subject guide.

References

1. Frazier, J. J., Stein, C. D., Tseytlin, E., & Bekhuis, T. (2015). Building a gold standard to construct search filters: A case study with biomarkers for oral cancer. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 103(1), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.103.1.005.

2. Kavanagh, P. L., Frater, F., Navarro, T., LaVita, P., Parrish, R., & Iorio, A. (2021). Optimizing a literature surveillance strategy to retrieve sound overall prognosis and risk assessment model papers. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(4), 766–771. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa232.

Vinson Li

Librarian Educator
Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Western Zone

Writing in plain language matters. In Canada, it’s reported that nine million people have limited literacy skills, with over half of Canadians reading below a high school level. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to offer additional support to patients and families with easy-to-read, straightforward patient pamphlets. For more information about creating or updating patient pamphlets, please visit the Patient Education Resources Toolkit. Contact Pamphlets@nshealth.ca with any questions. You can search for pamphlets by title or keyword in the pamphlets catalogue, or view the complete listing of active titles in our Print Code Index.

The following pamphlets were updated or created in November 2025. 

Arabic Translations
AR85-2370 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy [Arabic] (English: WK85-2300, En français: FF85-2339, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
AR85-2371 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes [Arabic] (English: WK85-2301, En français: FF85-2340, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
AR85-2369 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy [Arabic] (English: WK85-2299, En français: FF85-2338, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)
AR85-2536 NEW How to do a Twin Bag™ Exchange [Arabic] (English: WQ85-0633, Simplified Chinese: CH85-2214, Russian: RU85-2379, Vietnamese: VI85-2390)

Cardiovascular System 
WG85-0158 Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) - Halifax Infirmary (H.I.)
                       Previous title: Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR)
WG85-2315 24-hour Cardiology Transfer Service
WG85-2546 NEW Cardiac Surgery Sternal Precautions

Digestive System 
WI85-2548 NEW Bowel Surgery - Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) (En français: FF85-2549)

Endocrine System 
WK85-1982 Diabetes Centres - Digby Diabetes Centre Shelburne Diabetes Centre Yarmouth Regional Hospital
WK85-2300 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy
(En français: FF85-2339, Arabic: AR85-2370, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
WK85-2301 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes (En français: FF85-2340, Arabic: AR85-2371, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
WK85-2299 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy (En français: FF85-2338, Arabic: AR85-2369; Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)

French Translations (en français)
FF85-2339 Dépistage du diabète après la grossesse (English: WK85-2300, Arabic: AR85-2370, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2467)
FF85-2340 J’ai le diabète. Puis-je avoir un bébé en santé? - Information sur la grossesse pour les personnes atteintes de diabète de type 1 ou de type 2 (English: WK85-2301, Arabic: AR85-2371, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2466)
FF85-2338 Dépistage du diabète pendant la grossesse (English: WK85-2299, Arabic: AR85-2369, Mi'kmaw: MI85-2446)
FF85-2549 NEW Votre guide de chirurgie intestinale - Récupération améliorée après une chirurgie (RAAC - ERAS) (English: WI85-2548)

Geriatrics 
WT85-0599 Understanding Restraint Use for Patients and Essential Care Partners
                       Previous title: Restraint Considerations for Patients and Families
WT85-2537 NEW Seniors' Care Team

Gynecology & Reproductive Health
WP85-1931 Your Baby's Second Night (En français: FF85-1965)
WP85-2540 NEW Pre-Eclampsia - Cape Breton Regional Hospital 

Hematology
WH85-2547 NEW Welcome to the Hereditary Bleeding Disorder Clinic - Victoria General (VG) Site, QE II

Hospital Information
WX85-0466 Your Rights and Responsibilities (letter size English: WX85-1842, En français: FF85-1739, Arabic: AR85-2205)

WX85-1933 Integrated Chronic Care Service (ICCS) Scent-free Information

Medications
QV85-2179 Oral Magnesium Supplements- Integrated Chronic Care Service

Mental Health & Addictions
WM85-2545 NEW Assessment for Eating Disorders in Adults

Mi'kmaw Translations
MI85-2467 Screening for Diabetes After Pregnancy [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2300, En français: FF85-2339, Arabic: AR85-2370)
MI85-2466 I have diabetes and I can have a healthy baby! - Pregnancy Information for Individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2301, En français: FF85-2340, Arabic: AR85-2371)
MI85-2446 Screening for Diabetes During Pregnancy [Mi'kmaw] (English: WK85-2299, En français: FF85- 2338, Arabic: AR85-2369)

Musculoskeletal System
WE85-2237 Knee Replacement Surgery - Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH) Halifax Infirmary (HI)

Nursing Units
WZ85-1195 Welcome to Unit 7.2 Vascular Surgery - Halifax Infirmary, QE II
                     Previous title: Welcome to Unit 4.1 Vascular and General Surgery - Halifax Infirmary Site, QE II
WZ85-0018 Welcome to 4B - Hospitalist Medicine Unit (HMU)
                      Previous title: Welcome to 4B: Community Transitions Unit

Nutrition & Food
LC85-2035 Need Help Filling Your Belly or Cupboards? Yarmouth Food Supports

Oral Health
WU85-2227 Tissue Transplant in Oral Surgery (En français: FF85-2328)

Otorhinolaryngology
WV85-0439 Total Laryngectomy (En français: FF85-2366)

Respiratory System
WF85-2544 NEW Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)

Surgery 
WO85-2541 NEW About Bariatric Surgery
WO85-2542 NEW Bariatric Surgery eLearning Program
WO85-2543 NEW Common Questions About Bariatric Surgery

Urogenital System
WJ85-0474 Managing Urinary Incontinence
WJ85-2222 Intermittent Clean Catheterization
WJ85-0396 Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
WJ85-0332 After Urinary Catheter Removal
WJ85-0478 Laparoscopic Kidney Removal (Nephrectomy)
WJ85-1603 Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
WJ85-0160 Circumcision
WJ85-0476 Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
WJ85-0481 Malleable Penile Prosthesis
WJ85-0485 Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
WJ85-0583 After Vasectomy Reversal (Vasovasostomy)
WJ85-0587 After a Nesbit Procedure
WJ85-0584 Having a Ureteral Stent
                       Previous title: Having a Ureteral Stent: After Urological or Endoscopic Surgery
WJ85-0165 Cystoscopy with Local Anesthetic
                      Previous title: Cystoscopy - Local Anesthetic
WJ85-0585 After a Cystoscopy with General Anesthetic
                       Previous title: After Cystoscopy: General Anesthetic
WJ85-2538 NEW Kegel Exercises for Bladder Control

WJ85-2539 NEW Inflatable Penile Implant Surgery - Dartmouth General Hospital, Victoria General Site

The following pamphlets were archived in November 2025:
WX85-1696 How to Avoid Safety Risks During Your Hospital Stay (En français: FF85-1711)

FF85-1711 Comment éviter les risques liés à la sécurité pendant votre hospitalisation (English: WX85-1696)

WX85-1842 Your Rights and Responsibilities [letter size version] (Booklet version: WX85-0466) (French Booklet: 1739, Arabic Booklet: 2205) (Poster version: MC0040; French poster: MC0043)

If a pamphlet that has been archived is still needed, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to make it available again.
 

Kendell Fitzgerald

Librarian Educator
Central Zone

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy digest posts summarize updates over the past month about:

• Clinical Policies, Care Directives, Guidelines and Learning Modules
  • Get the latest clinically relevant, local guidance published through policies, care directives, guidelines and/or learning modules.
  • Identify competencies relevant to your/your team’s practice.
• Dynamic Health (DH)
  • Stay informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, including recent updates to Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.
• Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides
  • Learn about recently published and updated CPS subject guides, where you/your team can find relevant resources across DH, policies, care directives, guidelines, and learning modules. CPS subject guides also include Key Practice Points and additional educational and guidance resources to support implementation and competency maintenance.

Original posts on the above topics can be accessed by Nova Scotia Health employees through The Compass > Clinical Resources News.

Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides & Policies – Updates

The following CPS subject guides have been updated with new content in the past month:

• Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)
• Blood Product Administration - Transfusion Medicine
• Care of the Patient After Death
• Continuing Care
• Diagnostic Imaging (DI) Professionals
• Drug Evaluation Unit (DEU)
• Elder Care In Hospital
• Ethics Nova Scotia Health
• Frailty and Elder Care Network
• Harm Reduction
• Home First
• Infection Prevention and Control: Long-term Care and Home Care
• Informed Choice
• New Nurse Mentorship Program
• NEWS2 Early Warning Score
• Occupational Health and Safety: Continuing Care
• Primary Health Care - Skills and Procedures
• Respiratory Therapy Skills and Procedures
• Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI)

In consultation with Clinical Nurse Educators (CNEs) in relevant care areas, and with the approval of Critical Care leadership, CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring has been archived by the Nova Scotia Health Policy Office. CL-SP-005 Intra-abdominal Pressure Monitoring is replaced by the two Dynamic Health skills below, and their corresponding Workplace Notes:

• Measuring Intra-Abdominal Pressure
• Preventing and Managing Intra-Abdominal Hypertension in Adults

Dynamic Health Updates

• New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills
  • New notes have been created for a range of skills, including but not limited to: Arterial Catheters, Bedside Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy, CPAP, BiPAP, Falls Risk, Mechanical Ventilation, Minimally Invasive Pulse Wave Analysis, Spontaneous Awakening Trial.
  • View the full list of New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills as of November 2025.
• Revised Workplace Notes
  • Workplace Notes about a range of skills have been revised, including but not limited to: Administering Labetalol, Platelets, Changing Burn Dressings, Falls Prevention Plans, Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment, Liquid Nitrogen for Cryosurgery, Patency for Central Venous Catheter with Complete Thrombotic Occlusion.
  • View the list of Revised Workplace Notes as of November 2025.
• Custom Workplace Skills – NEW and UPDATED
  • Administering Allergy Patch Testing in Adults and Pediatrics
  • Monitoring Tracheostomy Tube Pressure Using Minimal Occlusive Volume (MOV)

Dynamic Health Customizations (Reviews and Custom Skills) Maintenance Schedule

It’s hard to believe, but it has been three years since we published a series of Workplace Notes as a result of our first Dynamic Health skills review!

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy is committed to revisiting Workplace Notes and Custom Skills every three years, or as current evidence and practice evolves, to keep our collection current.

If you provided a skill review or contributed to the creation of a Custom Workplace Skill in 2023, watch your inbox! Starting November 18, we will be emailing you to update your review or custom skill. If you have moved on or changed roles, please fill out the form link provided in the email and add a colleague who would be best to either take on the skill or point us in the direction of a new reviewer. Please have your responses submitted by January 18, 2026. Thank you for your continued support!

Salem Sump Tubes - Proper Use of Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV)

Cardinal Health has issued product guidance on safe use of the Anti-Reflux Valve (ARV) for Salem Sump tubes.

Review the full update for guidance on The Compass > Clinical Resources News.

Get in Touch!

Connect with Clinical Policy and Practice about this content update and opportunities to collaborate by emailing AskIPPL@nshealth.ca.

Find guidance about using Dynamic Health, setting up a personal account, exporting CE (Continuing Education) Credits, and more in the Dynamic Health Support guide.

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy

AskIPPL@nshealth.ca

UPDATED: November 17, 2025. Original Post: July 20, 2020

Integrating the best available health evidence into decision-making processes is an important part of evidence-based practice. However, before applying clinical research findings to patient care, health care providers must determine whether the research findings are valid.

It is important to remember that published studies are not necessarily trustworthy. Healthcare research must be evaluated before being used to guide clinical decisions. Critical appraisal provides a framework for this evaluation.

What is critical appraisal?

Critical appraisal is “the process of carefully and systematically examining research to judge its trustworthiness, and its value and relevance in a particular context.” (CASP)

To critically appraise clinical research is to look at its methodological quality, trustworthiness, and applicability to a patient’s specific situation. Critical appraisal helps us ask two essential questions about a particular research study (Sala Serra & Domingo Torrell, 2022):

• Are the results believable and free of bias or errors? (internal validity)
• Do the results apply to populations other than the sample participants, specifically to my patient’s situation? (external validity)

When should critical appraisal be conducted?

Research should always be critically appraised, no matter its intended use. Such uses may include:

• Patient care in a clinical setting
• Organizational policies or guidelines
• Care directives
• Educational projects

For example, if a recently published study in your discipline suggests a therapy is effective and safe for patients, critically appraising the study ensures the findings are valid and unbiased, and the therapy is appropriate for the specific needs of your patient.

Beyond clinical scenarios, critical appraisal is also a key part of evidence synthesis. As part of the systematic review process, for example, articles included in the review are critically appraised for validity. This ensures that the integrity of the overall review is not impacted by the quality of the individual studies included.

Using critical appraisal checklists

Any type of clinical study can be critically appraised, and each study type has its own checklist. Critical appraisal checklists provide a step-by-step guide through the appraisal process. There are many critical appraisal tools available from organizations that are experts in evidence-based research evaluation, including:

• JBI (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute): Critical Appraisal Tools
• Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM): Critical Appraisal Tools
• Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP): Critical Appraisal Checklists
• Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN): Critical Appraisal Notes and Checklists
• Critically Appraising for Antiracism Tool (Naicker, R. 2023)

For example, CASP’s Randomised Controlled Trial Checklist includes questions about study methodology such as:

• Was the assignment of participants to interventions randomised?
• Were the investigators ‘blind’ to the intervention they were giving to participants?
• Do the benefits of the experimental intervention outweigh the harms and costs?
• Would the experimental intervention provide greater value to the people in your care than any of the existing interventions?

Critical appraisal for antiracism is rarely addressed in standard tools. To avoid overlooking underrepresented patient populations, consider supplementing your chosen tool with Naicker’s Critically Appraising for Antiracism Tool.

Critical appraisal can be conducted without the use of a formal checklist, but using an established set of appraisal criteria may be helpful if you want to ensure that you are consistent in how you appraise clinical research.

For more info on critical appraisal in your daily work or a larger project, email AskLibrary@nshealth.ca or book a one-on-one consultation with a librarian.

Additional Support

In-depth Resources in Library Services' Searching subject guide.

References

1. CASP - Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. (2025, October 15). What is critical appraisal?. https://casp-uk.net/what-is-critical-appraisal/

2. Naicker, R. (2022). Critically appraising for antiracism. Education for Information, 38(4), 291–308. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-220052

3. Sala Serra, M., & Domingo Torrell, L. (2022). Validity of a study: Internal and external validity. Cirugia espanola, 100(10), 649–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cireng.2021.12.007

Selena MacDonald

Librarian Educator
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone

Every year, the Patient Education Team identifies patient pamphlets that have not been reviewed or updated within 5 years of the last review date. We then contact content creators to confirm whether these pamphlets need to be updated or removed from circulation.

Routine archiving of out-of-date pamphlets is done in accordance with policy AD-LIB-001 Patient Education Materials: Development and Maintenance, which helps ensure Nova Scotia Health patients, families and essential care partners receive up-to-date patient education materials.

As you know, changes to drug names, clinic or department contact information, and clinical practice are common. Patient pamphlets must be reviewed by the teams that created them, and/or the teams that use them, to ensure that such changes are reflected in the materials we provide to patients. This helps ensure misinformation and outdated directives are removed to help keep patients and care partners safe.

Library Services' Patient Education Team is available to support Nova Scotia Health staff in updating any existing pamphlets. Pamphlets published in 2020 or before that have not been reviewed and updated by January 31, 2026 will be archived and removed from the patient education resources collection.

What do you need to do?

• Check the list of titles that are due for review.
• Complete the Archiving Project form to let us know you intend to update a pamphlet or to recommend it be archived.
• Complete the Archiving Project form to recommend a pamphlet for archiving.
• Share this information with your colleagues who are involved in patient education pamphlets in your area, department, unit, or clinic.

How can the Patient Education Team help?

We can send you the latest version of the pamphlet as a Word document, so you can edit it easily. We facilitate the review and update process for you, including:

• Integrating your team’s edits and feedback
• Reviewing for plain language and readability
• Coordinating adaptation and reprint copyright permission requests
• Ensuring improved accessibility and consistent messaging in line with other Nova Scotia Health materials
• Updating layout and branding

Get started on your pamphlet review project by completing the Archiving Project form to connect with the Patient Education Team.

For guidance and resources on how to update or archive a pamphlet, refer to the Patient Pamphlets section of the Library’s Content Creator Toolkit.

Questions? Reach out to the Patient Education Team at Pamphlets@nshealth.ca.

Kallen Rutledge

Librarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets Lead
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone

Writing in plain language matters. In Canada, it’s reported that nine million people have limited literacy skills, with over half of Canadians reading below a high school level. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to offer additional support to patients and families with easy-to-read, straightforward patient pamphlets. For more information about creating or updating patient pamphlets, please visit the Patient Education Resources Toolkit. Contact Pamphlets@nshealth.ca with any questions. You can search for pamphlets by title or keyword in the pamphlets catalogue, or view the complete listing of active titles in our Print Code Index.

The following pamphlets were updated or created in October 2025. 

Cardiovascular System 
WG85-0175 Peripheral Bypass Surgery
WG85-2530 Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)

French Translations (en français)
FF85-1718 Greffe de cornée (English: WW85-0136)
                  Previous title: Greffe de cornée (kératoplastie)
FF85-2162 Décollement postérieur du vitré (DPV) (English: WW85-1761)
FF85-1790 Écrire à la famille de votre donneur ou donneuse (English: WX85-1212)

Gynecology & Reproductive Health
WP85-2535 NEW High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy - Cape Breton Regional Hospital

Hospital Information
WX85-1212 Writing to Your Donor's Family (En français: FF85-1790)
WX85-1213 Writing to Transplant Recipients and Their Families

Intensive Care Unit
IC85-0133 Ventricular Drain
IC85-2532 NEW Care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) - Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Mental Health & Addictions
WM85-2274 Forensic Mental Health Community Program
                       Previous title: East Coast Forensic Hospital: Community Client Program
WM85-2531 NEW Mental Health and Addictions: 6 Lane Unit - Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building, QE II

Nephrology
WQ85-2272 Writing to Your Anonymous Living Kidney Donor
WQ85-2273 Writing to Your Anonymous Kidney Transplant Recipient

Nutrition & Food
LC85-2035 Need Help Filling Your Belly or Cupboards? Yarmouth Food Supports

Palliative Care
WD85-2516 NEW Let's Talk About Grief
WD85-2517 NEW Coping with Grief and Trauma: When Tragedy Turns Life Upside Down

Respiratory System
WF85-2533 NEW Respiratory Health Class
WF85-2534 NEW Pneumonia - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)

Urogenital System
WJ85-2510 Mid-stream Urine Collection - Valley Regional Hospital and Yarmouth Regional Hospital

The following pamphlets were archived in October 2025:
FF85-2064 Conseils pour une alimentation riche en fibres (English: LC85-0556)
FF85-2081 Légumineuses faciles d’emploi : préparer des lentilles, haricots et pois secs (English: LC85-0565)
FF85-2087 Calculs biliaires (English: WA85-1543)
WA85-1543 Gallstones (En français: FF85-2087)
DG85-2051 Discharge Instructions After Your Nerve Block: Dartmouth General Hospital

If a pamphlet that has been archived is still needed, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to make it available again.
 

Kendell Fitzgerald

Librarian Educator
Central Zone

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy digest posts summarize updates over the past month about:

• Clinical Policies, Care Directives, Guidelines and Learning Modules
  • Get the latest clinically relevant, local guidance published through policies, care directives, guidelines and/or learning modules.
  • Identify competencies relevant to your/your team’s practice.
• Dynamic Health (DH)
  • Stay informed about implementation and use of Dynamic Health at Nova Scotia Health, including recent updates to Workplace Notes and Custom Workplace Skills.
• Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides
  • Learn about recently published and updated CPS subject guides, where you/your team can find relevant resources across DH, policies, care directives, guidelines, and learning modules. CPS subject guides also include Key Practice Points and additional educational and guidance resources to support implementation and competency maintenance.

Original posts on the above topics can be accessed by Nova Scotia Health employees through The Compass > Clinical Resources News.

Care Directives, Clinical Practice Support (CPS) Subject Guides – New and Updated

• UPDATED CARE DIRECTIVE:
  • CD-PH-010 - Immunization Administration
    • Minor Revision: Revised term “vaccine” to “immunizing agents”; Added reporting pathway to CVP for new product.
• NEW CPS Subject Guides:
  • Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD)
    • The Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD) is the date when a patient is anticipated to be discharged from the current facility, based on clinical judgement of the care team. This guide supports establishing and documenting EDD, as well as accessing EDD data for decision making.
  • Working with Patients and Substitute Decisions-Makers (SDMs)
    • Developed by Ethics Nova Scotia Health in conjunction with Legal Services, Working with Patients and Substitute Decisions-Makers (SDMs) outlines, organizes and answers questions frequently asked on this topic for health care staff.
• UPDATED CPS Subject Guides:
  • Fall and Injury Reduction
  • Frailty and Elder Care Network
  • New Nurse Mentorship Program
  • Nursing Orientation Program – Central Zone
  • Nursing Skills and Procedures
  • Palliative Care
    • Conversations about Serious Illness
    • Goals of Care
  • Paramedic Skills and Procedures
  • Respiratory Therapy Skills and Procedures

Dynamic Health Updates

• New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills
  • New Workplace Notes have been created for a range of skills, including but not limited to: Lipid Emulsion Therapy, Parenteral Nutrition, Minimal Occlusive Volume Monitoring.
  • View the full list of New Workplace Notes and Reviewed Skills for October 2025.
• Revised Workplace Notes
  • Workplace Notes about a range of skills that have been revised, including but not limited to: Parenteral Nutrition, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.
  • View the list of Revised Workplace Notes for October 2025.
• Custom Workplace Skills - NEW
  • Monitoring Tracheostomy Tube Pressure Using Minimal Occlusive Volume (MOV)

2024 CVAA Guidelines and CVAD Competency Updates for Nursing

In preparation for the forthcoming updates to Nova Scotia Health's Central Venous Access Device-related policies, IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy have updated competencies and skills regarding CVAD for Nursing to align with the 2024 Canadian Vascular Access Association (CVAA) Guidelines.

Make sure to check out our comparison of Previous Practice versus CVAA-informed Practice, and review the updated competency requirements in our post on The Compass > Clinical Resources News.

Stop the Flu! And RSV Immunization

Visit the Stop the Flu! section of the ERIN Hub to find out where you, as a Nova Scotia Health employee, can take part as a Flu Champion, and receive and document your vaccine.

You’ll also find resources to support Flu Champions, related policies and care directives, flu clinic schedules for Nova Scotia Health staff, product monographs, and other communications tools.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunizations for eligible infants and adults are now included as part of the publicly funded immunization program.

Guidance is outlined and maintained on the ERIN Hub > RSV, in key resources such as:

• Nova Scotia Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infant Immunization Program – Information for Health Care Professionals
• Nova Scotia Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Adult Immunization Program – Information for Health Care Professionals
• Nova Scotia Health Vaccine Consult Service: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunization Agents FAQ

Please refer to these, and other supporting resources, along with the associated policy and care directive, available on the Immunizer Education Clinical Practice Support subject guide > Care Directives and Policies.

Review the full memo from IPPL on the Compass > Clinical Resources News.

Get in Touch!

Connect with Clinical Policy and Practice about this content update and opportunities to collaborate by emailing AskIPPL@nshealth.ca.

Find guidance about using Dynamic Health, setting up a personal account, exporting CE (Continuing Education) Credits, and more in the Dynamic Health Support guide.

IPPL Clinical Practice and Policy

AskIPPL@nshealth.ca

Has your team ever been asked for permission to reproduce or adapt your content? Do you want to ensure proper credit is given when your work is shared?

Creative Commons (CC) licensing could be the solution.

Creative Commons is a global, nonprofit system that offers open licences for creative works. There are six types of CC licences, each allowing different levels of sharing, copying, and adaptation. All licences require attribution to the original creator.

Nova Scotia Health teams now have the option to assign Creative Commons licences to their work!

This change follows the example set by the Nova Scotia Health Policy Office, which publishes new policies under a CC licence, and is inspired by Alberta Health Services which has successfully used CC licensing for several years.

To retain control over how your content is used, we recommend choosing one of the two most restrictive CC licences:

• CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike)
  Allows others to reuse or adapt your work for noncommercial purposes providing they credit you and share any changes under the same license.
• CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives)
  Allows others to share your work for noncommercial purposes with proper credit, but no changes or adaptations are allowed.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Creative Commons subject guide for information on:

• Why choose Creative Commons? Learn how it can increase collaboration and extend the impact of Nova Scotia Health’s work locally, nationally, and globally.
• Considerations before assigning CC licences, including the need for leadership approval.
• How to select the right CC licence for your content.
• Licensing Statements/Disclaimers, approved by Nova Scotia Health Legal Services.
• Support Tools, including a customizable licence tracking spreadsheet, infographics, templates for Word and PowerPoint, and a helpful FAQ section.

Ready to get started or have questions?

• Email us at copyright@nshealth.ca
• Book a one-on-one consultation
• Request a Custom Education Session for your team

Roxanne MacMillan

Librarian Educator
Halifax Infirmary, Central Zone

Writing in plain language matters. In Canada, it’s reported that nine million people have limited literacy skills, with over half of Canadians reading below a high school level. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to offer additional support to patients and families with easy-to-read, straightforward patient pamphlets. For more information about creating or updating patient pamphlets, please visit the Patient Education Resources Toolkit. Contact Pamphlets@nshealth.ca with any questions. You can search for pamphlets by title or keyword in the pamphlets catalogue, or view the complete listing of active titles in our Print Code Index.

The following pamphlets were updated or created in September 2025. 

Arabic Translations
AR85-2401 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring [Arabic] (English: WG85-2073, En français: FF85-2389)
AR85-2256 How to Self-Prone with a Lung Injury [Arabic] (English: WC85-2251, En français: FF85-2255)
                     Previous title: How to Self-Prone: Instructions for COVID-19 Patients and Caregivers
AR85-2225 Guidelines After General Surgery [Arabic] (English: WO85-2223, En français: FF85-2224)

Skin Care 
WR85-2310 Guidelines After a Minor Procedure - Dermatology Clinic
WR85-2524 NEW Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
WR85-2525 NEW Liquid Nitrogen (Cryotherapy)
WR85-2526 NEW Efudex® (5% Fluorouracil Cream) for Actinic Keratosis

Cardiovascular System 
WG85-0393 Before and After Your Cardioversion - Halifax Infirmary (En français: FF85-1726)
WG85-1296 Angioplasty of the Leg (Balloon Procedure) (En français: FF85-1791)
                      Previous title: Angioplasty of the Legs (Balloon Procedure)
WG85-2523 NEW Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease - Changes in Your Mental Health
WG85-2530 NEW Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS)

Chinese (Simplified) Translations
CH85-2527 NEW Over-the-Counter Medications and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) [Simplified Chinese] (English: WQ85-1636)

Diagnostic Imaging 
WN85-0001 Angiogram - Halifax Infirmary Victoria General
                      Previous title: Angiogram
WN85-0229 Fistulogram

Digestive System 
WI85-1555 Hepatic Encephalopathy

French Translations (en français)
FF85-2195 Don de cornées - Service de soins palliatifs (English: WD85-1150)
                    Previous title: Faire un don de vie - Don de cornées - Service des soins palliatifs
FF85-2099 Amygdalectomie et adénoïdectomie (English: WV85-0284)
FF85-1966 Surveillance de la glycémie chez les nouveaux-nés (English: WP85-1934)
                    Previous title: Surveillance de la glycémie chez les nouveau-nés
FF85-2105 Services de physiothérapie en Nouvelle‑Écosse (English: WB85-1438)
FF85-1783 Injection de Botox® (English: WW85-0282)
FF85-2166 Conseils de sécurité pour les enfants hospitalisés (English: WX85-2118)
                    Previous title: Conseils pour la sécurité des patients – Services de pédiatrie
FF85-2190 Virus Coxsackie (maladie mains-pieds-bouche et herpangine) (English: WA85-2127)
FF85-2188 Soins continus - Information importante (English: WX85-2120)
FF85-2191 Croup (diphtérie laryngienne) (English: WA85-2128)
FF85-2522 NEW Analyse d’urine après une opération (English: WJ85-2501)

Gynecology & Reproductive Health
WP85-2314 Welcome to the Women and Children's Unit - Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre
WP85-2520 NEW Thyroid Disorders During Pregnancy

Hospital Information
WX85-1542 Lowering Your Chance of Getting a Blood Clot While in the Hospital (En français: FF85-1545)
                      Previous title: Preventing Blood Clots While in the Hospital
WX85-2528 NEW Mi’kmaw Indigenous Patient Navigator (MIPN) - Western Zone

Mental Health & Addictions
WM85-2296 When should I be worried about my relationship with food and exercise?
WM85-2529 NEW Family and Support Person Education Program - Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP)

Musculoskeletal System
WE85-1582 Pressure Injury (Ulcer) Prevention (En français: FF85-1795)

Nephrology
WQ85-1475 Bowel Preparation for Chronic Kidney Disease Before Colonoscopy
WQ85-0397 Fistuloplasty

Nervous System
WL85-2302 Sexual Health After a Spinal Cord Injury
                      Previous title: Sexual Health After Spinal Cord Injury

Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation
WB85-1299 Liver Transplant Physiotherapy Program (En français: FF85-1839)
WB85-1597 General Leg Exercise Program (En français: FF85-2085)

Surgery 
WO85-2521 NEW Before and After Day Surgery
 

The following pamphlets were archived in September 2025:
NSCCP-1686  Male Breast Cancer
WQ85-2283  Fistulogram - Cape Breton Regional Hospital
WQ85-2284  Fistuloplasty - Cape Breton Regional Hospital
 

If a pamphlet that has been archived is still needed, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to make it available again.
 

Kendell Fitzgerald

Librarian Educator
Central Zone

In healthcare, it is important to remember that our patients may not understand the information or teaching we share with them. You can help to improve understanding by communicating clearly. This helps everyone — not just those who may struggle to understand health information.

There are numerous guides and resources available to help clinical teams support patient and care partner learning. From these, we’ve made a list of communication tools that can best help you strengthen your ‘at the bedside’ teaching just in time for health literacy month this October!

Communication Tools

• Learn about why it’s important for clinical teams to consider the language they use and its impact on advancing health equity.
  Resource: Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts
  Authors: American Medical Association, AAMC Center for Health Justice
  Link: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-aamc-equity-guide.pdf
   
• Learn how to use gender inclusive language with new clients in a clinical setting.
  Resource: Gender Inclusive Language – Clinical settings with new clients
  Authors: Trans Care BC
  Link: https://www.transcarebc.ca/sites/default/files/2024-03/Gender_Inclusive_Language_Clinical.pdf
   
• Learn about gender inclusive language in any setting.
  Resource: Inclusive and Affirming Language Tips
  Authors: Egale Canada
  Link: https://egale.ca/awareness/affirming-and-inclusive-language/
   
• Watch a short 2-minute video about medical jargon and how to communicate effectively and simply.
  Resource: Keep It Simple for Safety - Don't Use Jargon
  Authors: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBZjpy3ibs&t
   
• Read a short, straightforward guide to help improve written communication intended for patients and care partners.
  Resource: Guidelines for Effective Writing
  Authors: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  Link: https://www.cms.gov/training-education/learn/find-tools-to-help-you-help-others/guidelines-for-effective-writing
   
• Learn how to easily sharpen your health literacy skill set with these strategies.
  Resource: Easy ways to build health literacy into your daily routines
  Authors: Library Services
  Link: https://library.nshealth.ca/blogs/Home/News/Easy-ways-to-build-health-literacy-into-your-daily-routines
   
• This free, 20-minute, online learning module can help you learn to identify and use key elements of teach-back and plain language to promote health equity, safety, and quality, and advance organizational health literacy.
  Resource: Always Use Teach-back! Interactive Learning Module
  Authors: Abrams MA, Nielsen GA, Wilson A. Always Use Teach-back! Toolkit. 2024. https://teachbacktraining.org
  Link: https://teachbacktraining.org/teach-back-interactive-learning-module/
   
• Use tips from this resource to optimize care and improve provider-patient communication with older patients.
  Resource: Talking With Your Older Patients
  Authors: National Institute on Aging
  Link: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/health-care-professionals-information/talking-your-older-patients
   
• Bookmark this list of plain language substitutes and easy explanations to use in your conversations or written content. 
  Resource: Plain Language Replacements
  Authors: Library Services’ Patient Education Team
  Link: https://library.nshealth.ca/ld.php?content_id=37381737
   

When patients, families, and support persons understand the information being shared with them, they can make more informed and meaningful decisions about their care and treatment, in collaboration with their healthcare team.

Gear up for health literacy month this October by sharing this resource list with your colleagues or team today!

Learn more about Health Literacy in the Content Creator Toolkit: https://library.nshealth.ca/Patient-Education-Resources/Health-Literacy

Kallen Rutledge

Librarian Educator, Patient Education Pamphlets Lead
Nova Scotia Hospital, Central Zone