Clinical effectiveness and allied health professionals: an information needs assessment

Abstract

Objective: To determine the information needs and support required by AHPs whilst building services based on clinical effectiveness. Methods: A qualitative approach using action research in co-operation with a Rehabilitation Department Clinical Effectiveness group, leading to interviews with eight therapists. The sampling strategy was purposive. Results: Therapists have well-developed professional networks, but are unsure how to access traditional library areas. Library training can stop AHPs in asking for help or services, whilst the library is thought to be very different to their everyday work, but confidence in using the library service can be acquired by getting to know a librarian. A departmental-based service was thought to provide better access to, and understanding of, information through mentorship, whilst also providing up-to-date evidence so that clinicians can concentrate on their clinical work whilst being more clinically effective. Conclusions: When seeking information, AHPs are more likely to use professional networks than libraries. However, when working alongside an AHP, a librarian can upgrade information-seeking skills through mentorship, whilst named library contacts can make it easier to access the library for help.

An information behaviour investigation of the community pharmacists in Greece for developing library and information services

“…The participants in the research reported here perceive library and information services as the key to a rather uncertain professional environment and future for community pharmacists in Greece. However, the problems mainly considered to be significant by community pharmacists for accessing information services are also a common finding in other studies for health care professionals 37 and include the lack of time and lack of organized facilities such as libraries and information services. The development of specialized library and information services, as well as continuing education, will decrease the gap in the scientific knowledge and help pharmacists to further explore their opportunities to assume a novel and a unique role among health care professionals.…”

Conducting a user-centered information needs assessment: the Via Christi Libraries' experience*

“…What they did not anticipate was discovering the extent to which respondents wanted to increase their professional, collaborative interactions with the librarians. Projects reported by Haigh [16] and Klein-Fedyshin et al [17] offer examples of the value of this type of multidisciplinary collaboration. However, as Lyon et al [18] concluded in their study of collaborations in bioinformatics work, librarian visibility is critical to identifying and building productive collaborative projects.…”

Primary Prevention of Violence Against Women

“…Because needs assessments focused on the training requirements of persons in multiple organizations generally involve a variety of methods to collect information (Chan et al, 2003;Gould, Kelly, White, & Chidgey, 2004;Haigh, 2006;Ringstad, Skaarup, Henriksen, & Davis, 2006), several procedures were used to collect data for this needs assessment of DELTA and RPE practitioners. Document reviews were used to collect information concerning the characteristics of the DELTA and RPE practitioners and the characteristics of the agencies that house these programs.…”