Accessing Research Beyond the Paywall

Abstract

How can clinicians incorporate the latest research evidence in their practices if they can’t access research articles? The reality is that clinicians’ ability to access the latest research is a key factor in bridging the research-to-practice gap. Consider the sizable, 17-year lag between publication of research findings and actual application of those findings in clinical practice. One likely contributor to this lag is new clinicians’ loss of free, easy access to research articles when they leave graduate school. However, while paying per article is one way of accessing journal articles, there are several other free and legal ways to obtain them. Here we share several resources and tips to help you access published research