The impact of clinical librarian services on patients and health care organisations

Abstract

This study is unique in taking a wide view of potential and specific impacts to which CLs contribute across health care organisations. It is the largest UK evaluation of CL services to date and demonstrates CLs affect direct patient care, improve quality and save money. Future researchers are urged to use the tools presented to collect data on the same outcomes to build a significant and comprehensive international evidence base about the effectiveness and impact of clinical librarian services.

Health sciences libraries in Germany: new directions

“…While most assist with the development of search strategies, full mediated searches for researchers working on systematic reviews, clinical guidelines and similar publications (Spencer & Eldredge, ) are less common. Clinical librarian services (Brettle, Maden, & Payne, ) and support for the critical appraisal of clinical evidence (Maden‐Jenkins, ) are rare, as is research in the field of library and information science.…”

Big Data – What is it and why it matters

“…Generating a great deal of interest on social media since it first appeared on Early View – the Wiley author services which presents full‐text copy edited articles as soon as they are available – prior to inclusion in a print version of the journal, is Brettle et al . 's study of the contribution of Clinical Librarians to organisational objectives and priorities. The mixed method study demonstrates that Clinical Librarian services can directly affect patient care, improve quality and save money.…”

“…If Brettle et al . focus on impact at a macrolevel, Lane's study centres in on impact at a microlevel; their investigation of h‐index calculations on Scopus versus Web of Science will be of interest to anyone wishing to demonstrate an individual's productivity and the citation impact of their publications.…”

Becoming business critical: Knowledge for Healthcare

“…NHS staff and learners want to receive a personalised service’ 15. Alison Brettle, Acting Director of Postgraduate Research, University of Salford, has completed an exemplary study that shows that clinical librarians improve the quality and help save money 16. The fact is that ‘Evidence does not speak for itself but needs to be mobilised at the right time, and through the right people, to make a difference in decision making’ 17…”