The Be All and End All of References

As a pharmacy student, I feel like I am constantly looking for new and credible sources of information. In the past, students spent hours looking through text books, research articles and papers in their universities library till the wee hours of the morning, however, with the advent of the internet students now have access to many more sources of information at the, relatively more simple, click of a button.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with sites that allow users to update and verify information on the web. These online encyclopaedias’ are smart, efficient, easy to use and not only give you the information you’re looking for, but also save you the trouble of Harvard referencing a dozen more sources!

How much more streamlined researching for your coursework will be, with one infinite source of web-based, up to date source of information, that is not only easy to find but also absolutely free?

Doesn't  it sound a little too good to be true? Similar sites are cropping up all over the web, which has led to some conflict between such sites and disputes over the integrity of their content. More recently The BTS (British Thoracic Society) has not received NHS Evidence accreditation for its guidelines; however Datapharm, the company behind the e-Medicines Compendium, has just been awarded the Information Standard by the DoH. So which is more credible; the NHS Evidence accreditation scheme or the DoH’s Information Standard, or wholly alternatively sites which allow any expert to edit the information?

I’m sure the contributors to such sites and guidance strive to ensure the reliability of their content, inevitably some mistakes must occur and the information is inaccurate or incorrect.

Whilst lecturers at Sunderland University are advising against using such as Wikipedia in academic assignments and essays, how often will we use sites like this once we’re on the register and need to remind ourselves of how the liver functions (just so we can explain to Mr Smith why his urine will turn orangey-red when he takes Rifampicin?)

At university, third year focused on critical appraisal skills but will I still have these skills in two years time when I’m practicing? Or will I have to rely on the current confusion that is the NHSs’ Evidence accreditation scheme versus the DoHs’ Information Standard?