Christine Urquhart

Critical incident technique and explicitation interviewing in studies of information behavior

Abstract This article discusses two related techniques, critical incident technique (CIT) and explicitation, which are used in a variety of social science research settings, and critically reviews their application to studies of information behavior. The current application of both techniques is compared with Flanagans early guidelines on the CIT and is discussed in relation to recent experience in the use of (1) the CIT in the JUSTEIS and VIVOS projects and (2) explicitation in projects concerned with text entering on interactive Web sites. The JUSTEIS project identifies trends, and reasons for those trends, in the uptake and use of electronic information services in higher education in the United Kingdom; this article examines experience gained over the first two cycles—1999 to 2000 and 2000 to 2001. The VIVOS project evaluated virtual health library services. Comparison of the experiences gained on the various projects suggests that critical incident methods could usefully be extended and enriched by some explicitation methods, to elicit the degree of evocation required for current and future studies of Internet use.

A study of the use of electronic information systems by higher education students in the UK

This paper reports findings from the first annual cycle of a three‐year research project on the provision and use of electronic information systems (EIS) within higher education in the UK. The project, JISC User Surveys: Trends in Electronic Information Services (JUSTEIS), was funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and undertaken at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (UWA). Students, academics and library staff in 25 universities were surveyed using critical incident and critical success factors methodologies to ascertain the range and nature of EIS use. Provision of these systems by higher education institutions was also investigated via an analysis of their library websites. The findings reported in this paper focus on student use and the purposes for which EIS are employed, and reveal the limited array of EIS used and the ad hoc nature of search strategies adopted across undergraduate and postgraduate bodies within a range of disciplines. There appears to be little or no variation in the pattern of EIS use by the various student groups studied – the effect of the Internet on information seeking by students is hugely significant and the more formal resources, such as JISC‐negotiated resources are little used. There is little evidence of coherent search strategies used by students. Recommendations for both the JISC and higher education are offered.

Bibliotherapy for mental health service users Part 1: a systematic review

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES UK health policy advocates a patient-centred approach to patient care. Library services could serve the rehabilitation needs of mental health service users through bibliotherapy (the use of written, audio, or e-learning materials to provide therapeutic support). Part 1 of a two part article describes a systematic review of the evidence for the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in mental health services. METHODS The systematic review of the literature used Cochrane guidelines, together with an overview of evaluations of bibliotherapy initiatives, and assessments of the needs of adult mental health service users for rehabilitation support. RESULTS The evidence strongly suggests that library-based interventions and the provision of information could be beneficial for service users and economical for the health service in assisting treatment of a range of conditions. At present, public libraries in the UK are developing basic bibliotherapy services. CONCLUSIONS Librarians, including librarians working for the health service, might provide more sophisticated bibliotherapy services, but the evidence to guide delivery is limited.

Trends in use of electronic journals in higher education in the UK - views of academic staff and students

Bonthron, Karen; Urquhart, Christine; Thomas, Rhian; Armstrong, Chris; Ellis, David; Everitt, Jean; Fenton, Roger; Lonsdale, Ray; McDermott, Elizabeth; Morris, Helen; Phillips, Rebecca; Spink, Sian, and Yeoman, Alison. (2003, June). Trends in use of electronic journals in higher education in the UK - views of academic staff and students. D-Lib Magazine, 9(6). Retrieved September 8, 2006 from http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june03/urquhart/06urquhart.html This item is freely available online at http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june03/urquhart/06urquhart.html Sponsorship: JISC

Precision of healthcare systematic review searches in a cross-sectional sample

BACKGROUND In systematic reviews, search precision is generally traded off against the desire to retrieve all relevant studies; however, there is no published evidence on typical precision values. The objective of this study is to establish typical values for the precision of systematic review searches in healthcare. METHODS From an existing cross-sectional sample of 300 MEDLINE-indexed systematic reviews, those that reported the flow of bibliographic records through the review process (n = 109) were examined. Where the ratio of the number of included studies and the number of unique retrievals could be determined, overall and median precision of the search was calculated. Subgroup analyses were conducted by review type (treatment/prevention, diagnosis/prognosis, epidemiology, other), eligible study designs, number of databases searched and for updates of existing systematic reviews. RESULTS Precision could be calculated for 94 systematic reviews. The median [interquartile range] precision was 0.029 [0.013, 0.081] with a range of 0.007-0.358. In this sample, precision did not differ significantly in any of the subgroups examined. IMPLICATIONS Search precision of approximately 3% was typical in this cross-section of health related systematic reviews. This finding is useful for systematic review teams to gauge review resource needs and for information specialists in evaluating their searches. Copyright

The value and impact of information provided through library services for patient care: developing guidance for best practice

INTRODUCTION Previous impact tool-kits for UK health libraries required updating to reflect recent evidence and changes in library services. The National Knowledge Service funded development of updated guidance. METHODS Survey tools were developed based on previous impact studies and a systematic review. The resulting draft questionnaire survey was tested at four sites, and the interview schedule was investigated in a fifth area. A literature search in ASSIA, Google Scholar, INTUTE, LISA, LISTA, SCIRUS, Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Knowledge), and the major UK University and National Libraries Catalogue (COPAC), identified ways to improve response rates. Other expert advice contributed to the guidance. RESULTS The resulting guidance contains evidence-based advice and a planning pathway for conducting an impact survey as a service audit. The survey tools (critical incident questionnaire and interview schedule) are available online. The evidence-based advice recommends personalizing the request, assuring confidentiality, and using follow-up reminders. Questionnaires should be brief, and small incentives, such as a lottery draw should be considered. Bias is minimized if the survey is conducted and analysed by independent researchers. CONCLUSION The guidance is a starting point for a pragmatic survey to assess the impact of health library services.

Personal Knowledge: A Clinical Perspective from the Value and EVINCE Projects in Health Library and Information Services.

The progress of initiatives concerned with implementing evaluated clinical research (such as evidence based medicine and clinical effectiveness) is dependent on the way individual health professionals actually acquire, use and value clinical knowledge in routine practice. The findings of two research projects, the Value and EVINCE projects, are compared with studies of the consolidation and application of clinical knowledge in clinical decision making. The Value project was concerned with the ways in which information from NHS libraries might be used in present and future clinical decision making. EVINCE was a similar impact study for nursing professionals. Both studies confirmed the importance of personal clinical knowledge. Health information services need to use a variety of strategies and knowledge management skills to ensure that the evaluated research evidence is assimilated and implemented into practice.

Information behaviour of women: theoretical perspectives on gender

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a need to consider gender or sex differences as variables in information behaviour research and, if so, how?Design/methodology/approach – A metasynthesis approach is used. A preliminary framework to categorise information behaviour research on women is developed by integrating main themes from feminist research and information behaviour research. Within each category, studies are compared and contrasted, to identify similar and divergent themes. Themes are then compared across categories, to synthesise the main concepts.Findings – The categorisation works for most studies, apart from a group of studies on health information use, communicating risk and decision making. The meta‐synthesis indicates the importance of concepts such as situation (as mesh), intermediaries (as node with connections), and connecting behaviour. Gender‐related or, rather gender‐ascribed, constructs, such as concern for others, not gender alone are likely to be impor...

Reviewing the evidence on nursing record systems

The aim of this article is to examine the relationship between nursing practice and the recording of practice. We outline the main findings of a Cochrane systematic review on nursing records, discussing the indications from the included studies that compared computerized nursing care planning with paper-based systems. Qualitative research on nursing records systems, and other survey evidence, is collated to answer questions on the format of the record (structured versus free text, for what type of practice), occasions when information exchange about nursing care may not and should not be recorded formally, and the effective organization of the nursing record. We conclude that more research is required to answer these questions, as it seems that computerization does not always bring the expected benefits, and outcomes for patient care are not clear.

Modelling Nonlinear Information Behaviour: Transferability and Progression

Purpose – This paper aims to report on a project aimed at moving Fosters nonlinear model of information seeking behaviour forwards from an empirically based model focused on one setting and towards one that is robustly transferable and enables testing of the model in other information‐seeking situations.Design/methodology/approach – The method utilised recoding of the original dataset, comparison of code decisions, and testing of the code book on a second dataset.Findings – The results of the coding confirm the structure and interactions in version one of the model. The dynamic and nonlinear nature of information seeking is confirmed, as are the core processes and contextual dimensions of the original model with some extension and refinement of coding.Practical implications – Changes to the model include new scales of extent and intensity, refinement of code descriptions, and extension of some elements to include multidisciplinary theories. Collectively these changes enable testing of the model in other ...