MEDICAL LIBRARIANS IN THE QUEST FOR BEST EVIDENCE
Potomková J.1), Bouzková H.2),Lesenková E.S.3)
1) Palacky University Faculty of Medicine, Olomouc,
Czech Republic
2) National Medical Library, Prague, Czech Republic
3) Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education, Prague,
Czech Republic
BACKGROUND
Application of evidence-based medicine principles requires close interprofessional collaboration among clinicians, medical educators, students, librarians, research scientists, nurses etc.
PURPOSE
The aim of the study is to determine necessary skills and competences of medical library staff to help end-users find best clinical evidence.
Materials
We describe experience of 28 Czech medical libraries sharing online access to Ovid Medline and EBM Reviews to support users´ demands for evidence-based research. The libraries provide information services in different healthcare settings, eg. teaching hospitals. clinical research institutes, medical schools, institutions for postgraduate medical and nursing education etc. A leading role is played by the National Medical Library in Prague in view of consortium administration and funding.
Methods
A questionnaire was sent to the consortium members with the request to return at least 15 copies filled by all library staff and a group of end-users selected by random. It is supposed to get around 400 completed questionnaires for further processing and analysis.
Results
The main attempt of the survey is to assess: a) end-users´ interests in best evidence resources and satisfaction with library services, b) end-user´ search skills to find evidence, c) medical library staff skills and competences to search for evidence, make a critical appraisal of literature, and do EBM advocacy , d) types of library services provided to promote EBM, e) impact of training librarians and end-users to master searching for evidence.
Conclusion
The results of the survey will be used to formulate a common recommendation for the Czech medical libraries to provide qualified services in the field of evidence-based medicine.
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