Nandita S. Mani

Flipping the classroom to teach systematic reviews: the development of a continuing education course for librarians.

OBJECTIVEnThe researchers used the flipped classroom model to develop and conduct a systematic review course for librarians.nnnSETTINGnThe research took place at an academic health sciences library.nnnMETHODnA team of informationists developed and conducted a pilot course. Assessment informed changes to both course components; a second course addressed gaps in the pilot.nnnMAIN RESULTSnBoth the pilot and subsequent course received positive reviews. Changes based on assessment data will inform future iterations.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe flipped classroom model can be successful in developing and implementing a course that is well rated by students.

Library-on-the-go: utilizing technology to provide educational programming.

The Sladen Library at the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) receives numerous requests for training on PubMed and other electronic resources. These requests are driven by the emphasis on evidence-based medicine (EBM), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education General competencies (specifically for practice-based learning and improvement) [1], and health care professionals growing awareness of the need to improve their effectiveness in information retrieval. Though educating patrons in the effective use of information resources is one of the Sladen Librarys key functions and goals, training was impeded by a lack of space and the time constraints many health care professionals felt. n nTo mitigate these barriers, the library developed the “Library-On-The-Go” project, funded in part by the National Library of Medicine (contract no. NO1-LM-6-3503) and Friends of the Sladen Library and Lam Archives, to provide training using a mobile cart equipped with laptops and other technology. The project plan was divided into four phases: (1) identifying and purchasing equipment, (2) developing marketing strategies for the “Library-On-The-Go” service, (3) providing training, and (4) performing formative evaluation. This paper describes these elements.

Continuous quality improvement in nephrology: a systematic review

BackgroundContinuous quality improvement (CQI) has been successfully applied in business and engineering for over 60xa0years. While using CQI techniques within nephrology has received increased attention, little is known about where, and with what measure of success, CQI can be attributed to improving outcomes within nephrology care. This is particularly important as payors’ focus on value-based healthcare and reimbursement is tied to achieving quality improvement thresholds. We conducted a systematic review of CQI applications in nephrology.MethodsStudies were identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertation Abstracts and sources of grey literature (i.e., available in print/electronic format but not controlled by commercial publishers) between January 1, 2004 and October 13, 2014. We developed a systematic evaluation protocol and pre-defined criteria for review. All citations were reviewed by two reviewers with disagreements resolved by consensus.ResultsWe initially identified 468 publications; 40 were excluded as duplicates or not available/not in English. An additional 352 did not meet criteria for full review due to: 1. Not meeting criteria for inclusionu2009=u2009196 (e.g., reviews, news articles, editorials) 2. Not nephrology-specificu2009=u2009153, 3. Only available as abstractsu2009=u20093. Of 76 publications meeting criteria for full review, the majority [45 (61%)] focused on ESRD care. 74% explicitly stated use of specific CQI tools in their methods. The highest number of publications in a given year occurred in 2011 with 12 (16%) articles. 89% of studies were found in biomedical and allied health journals and most studies were performed in North America (52%). Only one was randomized and controlled although not blinded.ConclusionsDespite calls for healthcare reform and funding to inspire innovative research, we found few high quality studies either rigorously evaluating the use of CQI in nephrology or reporting best practices. More rigorous research is needed to assess the mechanisms and attributes by which CQI impacts outcomes before there is further promotion of its use for improvement and reimbursement purposes.

Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP)-Adverse Reaction (AR) Database

Abstract Health Canada produces the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP) Adverse Reaction (AR) Database, which provides access to information on suspected adverse reactions to Canadian marketed pharmaceuticals, biologic agents, natural health products, and radiopharmaceuticals. This comprehensive database is accessible online and is of great use to consumers and health professionals.

An Evidence-Based Approach to Conducting Systematic Reviews on CKD

With the growing need to integrate best evidence to inform clinical care, systematic reviews have continued to flourish. Although this type of review is integral to the synthesis of evidence-based information, systematic reviews are often conducted omitting well-established processes that ensure the validity and replicability of the study; elements of which are integral based on standards developed by the Cochrane Collaboration and the National Academy of Medicine. This review article will share best practices associated with conducting systematic reviews on the topic of CKD using an 8-step process and an evidence-based approach to retrieving and abstracting data. Optimal methods for conducting systematic review searching will be described, including development of appropriate search strategies and utilization of varied resources including databases, grey literature, primary journals, and handsearching. Processes and tools to improve research teams coordination and efficiency, including integration of systematic review protocols and sophisticated software to streamline data management, will be investigated. In addition to recommended strategies for surveying and synthesizing CKD literature, techniques for maneuvering the complex field of Nephrology will also be explored.

Improving Clarity of Compliance Procedures Associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy (NIHPAP) via Process Mapping

ABSTRACT The University of Michigans Taubman Health Sciences Library is a significant partner in collaborating with National Institutes of Health (NIH) grantees to maintain continued funding at our institution. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy (NIHPAP) requires grantees to submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to PubMed Central (PMC), the NIH open-access digital repository. Because NIH is the University of Michigans largest research sponsor, the continuation of that funding is dependent on compliance with NIHPAP. This paper describes the development of a process map (PM) to improve clarity and efficiency in complying with NIH funding requirements.