Joanne Gard Marshall

Does it make a difference

Although database access has been available via search intermediaries for some time, online services are now encouraging end users to search databases directly. In response to this trend, librarians are taking on new end-user training and support roles. But is this training effort worthwhile? The relationship between online training received and the level of implementation of end-user searching is discussed using survey data from 124 Canadian health professionals (response rate 83%). There was a positive relationship between the number of training events reported and implementation level. Several different kinds of training, in addition to formal courses, were reported by end users. The use of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) was related to more positive perceptions of online searching which, in turn, predicted higher implementation levels. Variability in the implementation levels of the respondents suggests that end users are a diverse group with different information needs and degrees of searching expertise. Various types of both formal and informal training will continue to be required by end users.

The value of library and information services in patient care: Results of a multisite study

OBJECTIVE The research conducted a large-scale, multisite study on the value and impact of library and information services on patient care. METHODS THE STUDY USED: (1) 2 initial focus groups of librarians; (2) a web-based survey of physicians, residents, and nurses at 56 library sites serving 118 hospitals; and (3) 24 follow-up telephone interviews. Survey respondents were asked to base their responses on a recent incident in which they had sought information for patient care. RESULTS Of the 16,122 survey respondents, 3/4 said that they had definitely or probably handled aspects of the patient care situation differently as a result of the information. Among the reported changes were advice given to the patient (48%), diagnosis (25%), and choice of drugs (33%), other treatment (31%), and tests (23%). Almost all of the respondents (95%) said the information resulted in a better informed clinical decision. Respondents reported that the information allowed them to avoid the following adverse events: patient misunderstanding of the disease (23%), additional tests (19%), misdiagnosis (13%), adverse drug reactions (13%), medication errors (12%), and patient mortality (6%). CONCLUSIONS Library and information resources were perceived as valuable, and the information obtained was seen as having an impact on patient care.

A randomized trial of librarian educational participation in clinical settings.

In order to evaluate the librarians educational role in patient care settings, an information service was provided for health professionals, patients, and families by two part-time clinical librarians. Eight clinical areas were randomly selected from a pool of settings which met predetermined entry criteria. Four of these settings were randomly allocated to the experimental maneuver (that is, the clinical librarian service), and four were control settings. Results showed that the clinical librarians were accepted by health professionals and that services to all groups were viewed as successful. Significant differences in information-seeking patterns were found between study and control groups of health professionals. In particular, the study group was more likely to use the library for direct patient care and rated the librarian and library resources more highly as sources of information. This time-limited and education-oriented model would be useful for settings in which a full-time librarian program is not feasible.

The information needs of patients with Crohn's disease

Abstract As part of a clinical librarians participation in an Inflammatory Bowel Clinic, a questionnaire was administered to patients with Crohns disease between January and August 1977. The study population of 37 patients had only a limited knowledge of their disease in general and had a particular deficit in the area of tests and treatment. Several factors were associated to varying degrees with higher knowledge scores; among them were younger age, higher occupational level, longer duration of disease, more surgical procedures, longer clinic attendance, and higher recurrence rates. Lower knowledge scores were received by patients who said they were in poor health, who had cut back on their daily activities because of the disease, and who worried a lot about the disease. Those patients who had used patient organizations and medical libraries or books as sources of information were shown to score higher than those who used other sources. Patients were anxious to learn more about their disorder, and they reported that having information about Crohns disease was helpful for themselves and their families. The materials collected for patient use as a result of the study, and the possible applications of this type of study to other diseases, are also discussed.

Benchmarking reference services: step by step.

This article is a companion to an introductory article on benchmarking published in an earlier issue of Medical Reference Services Quarterly. Librarians interested in benchmarking often ask the following questions: How do I determine what to benchmark; how do I form a benchmarking team; how do I identify benchmarking partners; whats the best way to collect and analyze benchmarking information; and what will I do with the data? Careful planning is a critical success factor of any benchmarking project, and these questions must be answered before embarking on a benchmarking study. This article summarizes the steps necessary to conduct benchmarking research. Relevant examples of each benchmarking step are provided.

Benchmarking Reference Services

Benchmarking is based on the comma sense idea that someone else, either inside or outside of libraries, has found a better way of doing catah things and that your own librarys performance can be improved by finding out how others do things and adopting the best practices you find. Benchmarking is one of the tools used for achieving continuous improvement in Total Quality Management (TQM) programs. Although benchmarking can be done on an informal basis, TQM puts considerable emphasis on formal data collection and performance measurement Used to its full potential, benchmarking can provide a common measuring stick to evaluate process performance. This article introduces the general concept of benchmarking, linking it whenever possible to reference services in health sciences libraries. Data collection instruments that have potential application in benchmarking studies are discussed and the need to develop common measurement tools to facilitate benchmarking is emphasized.