Sue Childs

Judging the quality of internet‐based health information

Purpose – To overview the topic of the quality assessment and quality control of health information on the internet, particularly information targeted at patients, carers and health consumers.Design/methodology/approach – The context and background of the issue are explained. A range of key quality initiatives is described. The debates on the topic are presented. A health consumer tool produced by the author is described. Items from the literature are used to support the arguments presented.Findings – A range of quality initiatives exists, but there is neither an internationally agreed set of criteria nor a quality assessment tool. Little evidence exists to demonstrate that the criteria are correlated with good quality web sites and that the quality assessment tools are valid.Research limitations/implications – Research is needed: to identify the positive or negative effects of the use of health information from the internet on health outcomes: to understand how health consumers use the internet and choos...

Access to information and support for health: Some potential issues and solutions for an ageing population

Computer illiteracy is diminishing as a new generation of retirees become the younger old and display more up-to-date knowledge and skills. However, there are questions about whether this group will be able to continue to update their skills as they get older, and whether it is appropriate to develop technology solutions specifically for this age group or to concentrate on accessible designs for the whole population. We propose that older people may be empowered through involvement in the design and provision of accessible information and technology solutions and through training opportunities in information seeking skills. Access, involvement and training need to be provided in everyday locations, and training needs to be closely related to peoples physical, cognitive and information needs and those of the particular communities where they live. These issues are explored using evidence from a number of research projects conducted by the authors.

User behaviour in relation to electronic information services within the UK higher education academic community

Abstract The User Behaviour Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been established to investigate and profile the use of electronic information services (EIS) within higher education in the UK. Electronic information services are defined as: collections of information tools/products delivered to requesting users electronically, and usually computer mediated. This encompasses media of all types. This article discusses aspects of the methodology of the Framework, and preliminary findings from the first annual cycle of the Framework. Findings are based on interactions with 1500 users, including academic staff, library and information services staff, and students. Executed through three strands, the framework methodology uses an array of quantitative and qualitative approaches to lend a variety of insights into user behaviour with electronic information services, factors that encourage the use of electronic information services, and those that act as barriers to the effective integration of electronic information services into the learning experience.

A strategic approach to making sense of the “wicked” problem of ERM

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an approach to viewing the “wicked” problem of electronic records management (ERM), using the Cynefin framework, a sense‐making tool. It re‐conceptualises the ERM challenge by understanding the nature of the people issues. This supports decision making about the most appropriate tactics to adopt to effect positive change.Design/methodology/approach – Cynefin was used to synthesise qualitative data from an empirical research project that investigated strategies and tactics for improving ERM.Findings – ERM may be thought of as a dynamic, complex challenge but, viewed through the Cynefin framework, many issues are not complex; they are simple or complicated and can be addressed using best or good practice. The truly complex issues need a different approach, described as emergent practice. Cynefin provides a different lens through which to view, make sense of and re‐perceive the ERM challenge and offers a strategic approach to accelerating change.Research limi...

Records management capacity and compliance toolkits: a critical assessment

Purpose – This article seeks to present the results of a project that critically evaluated a series of toolkits for assessing records management capacity and/or compliance. These toolkits have been developed in different countries and sectors within the context of the e‐environment and provide evidence of good corporate and information governance.Design/methodology/approach – A desk‐based investigation of the tools was followed by an electronic Delphi with toolkit developers and performance measurement experts to develop a set of evaluation criteria. Different stakeholders then evaluated the toolkits against the criteria using cognitive walkthroughs and expert heuristic reviews. The results and the research process were reviewed via electronic discussion.Findings – Developed by recognised and highly respected organisations, three of the toolkits are software tools, whilst the fourth is a methodology. They are all underpinned by relevant national/international records management legislation, standards and ...

Opening research data: issues and opportunities

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the issues, the role of research data management (RDM) as a mechanism for implementing open research data and the role and opportunities for records managers. The open data agenda is premised on making as much data as possible open and available. However, in the context of open research data there are methodological, ethical and practical issues with this premise. Design/methodology/approach – Two collaborative research projects focusing on qualitative health data were conducted. “DATUM for Health” designed and delivered a tailored RDM skills training programme for postgraduate research students in health studies. “DATUM in Action” was an action research project between researchers from information sciences, health, mathematics and computing, looking at planning and implementing RDM. Findings – Three key issues emerged about what research data is appropriate to make open/accessible for sharing and reuse: re-using qualitative data conflicts with some of the epistemologi...

Tackling the wicked problem of ERM: using the Cynefin framework as a lens

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to complement a previous article on using the Cynefin framework to make sense of the electronic records management challenge. Its focus is on how to use Cynefin, and the ERM framework developed using it, as an approach to addressing this wicked problem. The aim is to provide examples of how they could be used in practice in different organisational contexts. Design/methodology/approach – Four examples are provided. Empirical research data are used to underpin three of the examples and a thought experiment using published literature informs the fourth. Findings – The examples illustrate the potential value and power of the Cynefin framework as both a practical and conceptual tool in the ERM context. It can be used to address the ERM challenge in different ways: as a strategic approach taking a holistic view and/or as a tactical approach at a more specific granular level. It can be used to inform practice by helping practitioners choose the most appropriate approach de...

Enhancing ICT skills: the how, who and when - illustrations from the JUBILEE project

This article reports on findings from the first cycle of the three year JUBILEE (JISC User Behaviour in Information‐seeking: Longitudinal Evaluation of EIS) project, being undertaken at the Information Management Research Institute at the University of Northumbria, in respect of the degree to which students and academics in Higher Education lack the necessary skills to take full advantage of EIS. The skills are examined in subsets: IT literacy skills; information searching skills; evaluative & critical skills; and information handling skills. In addition there is discussion on how best to upskill students and at what point in their academic careers. Another debate, common at several JUBILEE case study sites, focuses on whether such upskilling is better delivered by academics or LIS personnel.

Investigation into the Use of Microsoft SharePoint in UK Higher Education Institutions

This paper describes an investigation of the use of Microsoft SharePoint in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The study was funded by Eduserv, and conducted by Northumbria University in 2009. It aimed to discover how SharePoint was used, the views of stakeholders and any lessons learnt. The study comprised: a literature review; a telephone survey of IT Directors/Managers in 40 HEIs; an online survey with responses from 47 HEIs; an online community consultation; three detailed case studies; a public event. The study found that most UK HEIs were using SharePoint to some extent. Aspects of the SharePoint implementations - procurement, implementation approaches, drivers, critical success factors, use in teaching and learning and research, and barriers - are described. The conclusions look to the future of SharePoint use in UK HEIs as the 2010 version of the product becomes available. The transferability of the findings to other sectors is discussed.

The research-practice spiral

This article describes a partnership between the Information Management Research Institute, Northumbria University and the Durham and Teesside Health Libraries Alliance which aims to put research into practice, conduct practitioner focussed research and develop the research capacity of NHS librarians. The work of the partnership is illustrated by looking at how the Alliance has used the findings of one of IMRI’s research projects “Partnerships in Health”. The Alliance has used these findings to inform their work plan, but in addition they have amended the project’s models in the light of their experiences of implementation and of NHS changes. These amendments in their turn generate new research questions and new research projects. Thus a research‐practice spiral is produced. The partnership is one example of evidence‐based librarianship in practice.