Health information and libraries journal
-
The traditional role of health librarians as expert searchers is under challenge. ⋯ Although clients tend to be satisfied with searches carried out for them, improvements are required to effectively position the profession. Evidence-based guidelines, adherence to transparent standards, review of entry-level education requirements and a commitment to accredited, rigorous, ongoing professional development will ensure best practice.
-
Review
Consistency and accuracy of indexing systematic review articles and meta-analyses in medline.
Systematic review articles support the advance of science and translation of research evidence into healthcare practice. Inaccurate retrieval from medline could limit access to reviews. ⋯ Inaccuracies in indexing systematic reviews and meta-analyses in medline can be partly overcome by a 5-term search strategy. Introducing a publication type for systematic reviews of the literature could improve retrieval performance.
-
London Health Libraries (LHL) are undertaking a project in order to develop the role of their library and knowledge services staff in supporting learners within the NHS in the London area (LHL Learner Support Project). This paper reports on the first phase of the project. ⋯ A 'blended learning' approach, involving e-learning together with other methods, is identified as the most appropriate way for skills to be acquired.
-
Review Comparative Study
The value and impact of information provided through library services for patient care: a systematic review.
An updated systematic review was carried out of research studies looking at the value and impact of library services on health outcomes for patients and time saved by health professionals. ⋯ Research studies suggest that professionally led library services have an impact on health outcomes for patients and may lead to time savings for health-care professionals. The available studies vary greatly in quality but the better quality studies also suggest positive impacts. Good practice can be gathered from these studies to guide the development of a pragmatic survey for library services that includes the direct effects for patients among the outcome measures.